Does your DCPS/charter school differentiate math for elementary students?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, what you do if you want to stay in DC public is deliberately accelerate your child yourself over the years. Hire a tutor, have them work out of Singapore Math and Saxon math workbooks, put the kid on Khan Academy videos, send them to Johns Hopkins CTY camps etc. Document their progress and bring the evidence to the school's math coordinator a couple times a year.

If teachers get fed up with the kid burning through math assignments fast and causing mischief while s/he waits for others to catch up, believe me, the school starts to deliver the math challenge, at least as long as the school is mostly high SES kids. The kid may be sent to the library to work on math software. Don't give up or give in and the differentiation starts to kick in as long as the kid really can work far ahead of grade level. That's been our experience.

+1. You can also move to Ffx for AAP.

[Anonymous]

Also look at Russian School of Math. I'm so bummed they closed their dupont location, but i'm hoping after Covid they'll come back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids arrive at Deal and Hardy at varying math levels and are sorted into 3-4 paths. That means, every school that feeds into Deal differentiates, even if parents don't realize it (as in, if you are expecting an award certificate saying your kid is in the highest math group, you won't be seeing that; they won't even say it to you).

If you are starting in 6th grade at Deal, but are not coming from a feeder school, how do they know what math path to put your kid in? We plan to do that next year. The math at our current EOTP ES is very weak but our kid is excelling at the accelerated programs we have them enrolled in outside of school, and I want to make sure they are placed on the right path. Thanks!

They usually administer an assessment to determine the level and decide accordingly. Anyway, back to the original question, there was some differentiation in math at Eaton, in that kids worked at slightly different pace depending on their level. But this was all in class and there was no pull out or additional instruction. In 5th grade, before the pandemic, our DS just killed time doing random AMC tests and other online lessons. Eaton does have a great math specialist but at least in our later years, she stopped working with the kids directly during school hours. She ran an enrichment activity in the early mornings, which was a pain to get to but the kids seemed to like it. Since all kids have to take PARCC (at least until last year), the teachers have to get the kids ready for it. There is little time to cater to advanced kids. For kids who are multiple years ahead (e.g. Algebra 2 or Geometry in 5th grade), there is essentially nothing in all of DCPS.

I challenge you to find anything formal in the DMV or even in the USA for kids who are taking Algebra 2 in 5th grade. I know Mont Co and Fairfax don't offer anything. Thomas Jefferson (top STEM school in the US which happens to be in Fairfax) only has about 10-20% of their kids enter 9th having taken Algebra 2 in 8th (and you're saying your child is 3 more years advanced). My oldest kid is at a Big3 private (NCS/St. Albans/Sidwell/GDS) and they don't have anything approaching this level of acceleration (they are actually much slower than DCPS and put the entire class in Algebra 1 in 7th).

If your kid is on the track to be ready for college math in 7th grade then you will have to carve your own path. You can't expect a school district to offer classes for your 1:250K kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids arrive at Deal and Hardy at varying math levels and are sorted into 3-4 paths. That means, every school that feeds into Deal differentiates, even if parents don't realize it (as in, if you are expecting an award certificate saying your kid is in the highest math group, you won't be seeing that; they won't even say it to you).

If you are starting in 6th grade at Deal, but are not coming from a feeder school, how do they know what math path to put your kid in? We plan to do that next year. The math at our current EOTP ES is very weak but our kid is excelling at the accelerated programs we have them enrolled in outside of school, and I want to make sure they are placed on the right path. Thanks!

They usually administer an assessment to determine the level and decide accordingly. Anyway, back to the original question, there was some differentiation in math at Eaton, in that kids worked at slightly different pace depending on their level. But this was all in class and there was no pull out or additional instruction. In 5th grade, before the pandemic, our DS just killed time doing random AMC tests and other online lessons. Eaton does have a great math specialist but at least in our later years, she stopped working with the kids directly during school hours. She ran an enrichment activity in the early mornings, which was a pain to get to but the kids seemed to like it. Since all kids have to take PARCC (at least until last year), the teachers have to get the kids ready for it. There is little time to cater to advanced kids. For kids who are multiple years ahead (e.g. Algebra 2 or Geometry in 5th grade), there is essentially nothing in all of DCPS.

I challenge you to find anything formal in the DMV or even in the USA for kids who are taking Algebra 2 in 5th grade. I know Mont Co and Fairfax don't offer anything. Thomas Jefferson (top STEM school in the US which happens to be in Fairfax) only has about 10-20% of their kids enter 9th having taken Algebra 2 in 8th (and you're saying your child is 3 more years advanced). My oldest kid is at a Big3 private (NCS/St. Albans/Sidwell/GDS) and they don't have anything approaching this level of acceleration (they are actually much slower than DCPS and put the entire class in Algebra 1 in 7th).

If your kid is on the track to be ready for college math in 7th grade then you will have to carve your own path. You can't expect a school district to offer classes for your 1:250K kid.

I agree that there is very little for any level of advanced kids in DCPS and nothing at all for very advanced ones in much of the US. I would have thought that the private school systems offer some acceleration. Wasn't there a kid from St. Albans who managed to take and do well in AP Calc BC in 9th or 10th grade? FWIW my kid is pretty advanced but not that much.

[Anonymous]

Agree with others. There is a difference between I want to ensure my kid is on track to be in the highest math courses offered by public schools and my kid will be ready for college math in middle school. If you are the later, no school will really meet your needs.

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately the current curriculum being used by DCPS doesn't allow for differentiation. I would recommend just doing enrichment on your own at home. There are online programs and Khan Academy.

[Anonymous]

Everyone is getting ahead of themselves. Her Ker can do 2nd grade math? This is not a profoundly gifted kid. He will have peers in the same level. Any school with math groups will be fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree with others. There is a difference between I want to ensure my kid is on track to be in the highest math courses offered by public schools and my kid will be ready for college math in middle school. If you are the later, no school will really meet your needs.

seriously. Are we just talking about doing math a few years up in elementary school? Then substitute at home.
I thought we were talking about kids doing Calculus in 6th grade. If this is the case then DCPS or any school district won't be able to handle your kid. No high school offers 6 years of math beyond calculus.

DCPS offers Algebra 2 in 8th grade (at Deal) for those who test into the class. This is officially 3 years above grade level. There are about 20 kids/year who qualify. They're really bright kids and end up taking calculus in 10th grade followed by 2 years of high school math beyond calculus. If your kid is more advanced than this then he/she is out of the scope of 99% of high schools (public and private).
This kids need a college math department during high school and I hardly think it's fair to expect DCPS (or any school district) to offer this.

[Anonymous]

ugh. previous poster here. pls excuse all my mistakes.

Meant to type:

"These kids" need a college math department during high school and I hardly think it's fair to expect DCPS (or any school district) to offer this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids arrive at Deal and Hardy at varying math levels and are sorted into 3-4 paths. That means, every school that feeds into Deal differentiates, even if parents don't realize it (as in, if you are expecting an award certificate saying your kid is in the highest math group, you won't be seeing that; they won't even say it to you).

If you are starting in 6th grade at Deal, but are not coming from a feeder school, how do they know what math path to put your kid in? We plan to do that next year. The math at our current EOTP ES is very weak but our kid is excelling at the accelerated programs we have them enrolled in outside of school, and I want to make sure they are placed on the right path. Thanks!

They usually administer an assessment to determine the level and decide accordingly. Anyway, back to the original question, there was some differentiation in math at Eaton, in that kids worked at slightly different pace depending on their level. But this was all in class and there was no pull out or additional instruction. In 5th grade, before the pandemic, our DS just killed time doing random AMC tests and other online lessons. Eaton does have a great math specialist but at least in our later years, she stopped working with the kids directly during school hours. She ran an enrichment activity in the early mornings, which was a pain to get to but the kids seemed to like it. Since all kids have to take PARCC (at least until last year), the teachers have to get the kids ready for it. There is little time to cater to advanced kids. For kids who are multiple years ahead (e.g. Algebra 2 or Geometry in 5th grade), there is essentially nothing in all of DCPS.

I challenge you to find anything formal in the DMV or even in the USA for kids who are taking Algebra 2 in 5th grade. I know Mont Co and Fairfax don't offer anything. Thomas Jefferson (top STEM school in the US which happens to be in Fairfax) only has about 10-20% of their kids enter 9th having taken Algebra 2 in 8th (and you're saying your child is 3 more years advanced). My oldest kid is at a Big3 private (NCS/St. Albans/Sidwell/GDS) and they don't have anything approaching this level of acceleration (they are actually much slower than DCPS and put the entire class in Algebra 1 in 7th).

If your kid is on the track to be ready for college math in 7th grade then you will have to carve your own path. You can't expect a school district to offer classes for your 1:250K kid.

I agree that there is very little for any level of advanced kids in DCPS and nothing at all for very advanced ones in much of the US. I would have thought that the private school systems offer some acceleration. Wasn't there a kid from St. Albans who managed to take and do well in AP Calc BC in 9th or 10th grade? FWIW my kid is pretty advanced but not that much.

Doing BC calc in 9th or 10th is a 2 or 3 year different from the kid who is doing algebra 2 in 5th grade, who will need BC calc in 7th grade. These are all extremely advanced, but one of these is "you might find it" and the other is such an outlier in terms of needs that you're going to be on your own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids arrive at Deal and Hardy at varying math levels and are sorted into 3-4 paths. That means, every school that feeds into Deal differentiates, even if parents don't realize it (as in, if you are expecting an award certificate saying your kid is in the highest math group, you won't be seeing that; they won't even say it to you).

If you are starting in 6th grade at Deal, but are not coming from a feeder school, how do they know what math path to put your kid in? We plan to do that next year. The math at our current EOTP ES is very weak but our kid is excelling at the accelerated programs we have them enrolled in outside of school, and I want to make sure they are placed on the right path. Thanks!

They usually administer an assessment to determine the level and decide accordingly. Anyway, back to the original question, there was some differentiation in math at Eaton, in that kids worked at slightly different pace depending on their level. But this was all in class and there was no pull out or additional instruction. In 5th grade, before the pandemic, our DS just killed time doing random AMC tests and other online lessons. Eaton does have a great math specialist but at least in our later years, she stopped working with the kids directly during school hours. She ran an enrichment activity in the early mornings, which was a pain to get to but the kids seemed to like it. Since all kids have to take PARCC (at least until last year), the teachers have to get the kids ready for it. There is little time to cater to advanced kids. For kids who are multiple years ahead (e.g. Algebra 2 or Geometry in 5th grade), there is essentially nothing in all of DCPS.

I challenge you to find anything formal in the DMV or even in the USA for kids who are taking Algebra 2 in 5th grade. I know Mont Co and Fairfax don't offer anything. Thomas Jefferson (top STEM school in the US which happens to be in Fairfax) only has about 10-20% of their kids enter 9th having taken Algebra 2 in 8th (and you're saying your child is 3 more years advanced). My oldest kid is at a Big3 private (NCS/St. Albans/Sidwell/GDS) and they don't have anything approaching this level of acceleration (they are actually much slower than DCPS and put the entire class in Algebra 1 in 7th).

If your kid is on the track to be ready for college math in 7th grade then you will have to carve your own path. You can't expect a school district to offer classes for your 1:250K kid.

I agree that there is very little for any level of advanced kids in DCPS and nothing at all for very advanced ones in much of the US. I would have thought that the private school systems offer some acceleration. Wasn't there a kid from St. Albans who managed to take and do well in AP Calc BC in 9th or 10th grade? FWIW my kid is pretty advanced but not that much.

Doing BC calc in 9th or 10th is a 2 or 3 year different from the kid who is doing algebra 2 in 5th grade, who will need BC calc in 7th grade. These are all extremely advanced, but one of these is "you might find it" and the other is such an outlier in terms of needs that you're going to be on your own.

Seriously. Taking Algebra 2 in 5th grade means a school district will need to offer 5 years of math beyond Calculus. This isn't OFFERED IN ANY HIGH SCHOOL SCHOOL IN AMERICA. This is called a college math department, probably with a graduate degree program.
It's completely unreasonable to expect DCPS to offer this degree of acceleration.
If you have a kid who is this advanced you just enroll them in college.