MCPS is cuttting compacted math and cohorted literacy enrichment

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Equity is about making sure every child has what they need to thrive to their fullest potential. The board and district are not doing equity. Instead they're cutting gifted students off at the knees. This isn't okay.

Keep voting the Apple Ballot! This is their goal.

Oh come on. Stop blaming teachers, they don't like this either. It's central office's fault, not classroom staff.

(And yes, theoretically MCEA should be endorsing BOE members who will hold central office accountable. But apparently it is impossible to find people like that. Year after year, when they're candidates they sound like they're going to take on MCPS and make things better, and then they get into office and roll over. Not sure there's anything else MCEA can do about that.)

MCEA has other priorities. Like rent control and freezing out opposition.

I’m old enough to remember everyone yelling at me on here to vote for Laura Stewart because she was Apple Ballot approved

Let's not forget against whom she was running.

Yes. Laura and her buddies are running MCPS into the ground, but at least they’re doing so with language that doesn’t offend anyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pp mentions that the REAL issue is that this model has kids doing Pre-Calculus in 9th grade, but then Calculus A/B and B/C in succession.What is wrong here? I am not familiar with the math progression here. I am a foreigner. The issue is too difficult or should not break caclcus in A to C, or miss the curriculum of geometry or statistics? Does that mean parents should supplement on their own like IXL, RSM, or AOPS outside of school in some years? I am from Asia, so I am confused what all these mean.

I'm that PP, and here's my issue with that progression.

Current system

Right now, your standard "bright" kid who took compacted math in 4th grade will end up in Honors Pre-Calculus in 10th grade. That's a real crucible year for a lot of kids, and it's not uncommon for kids to take the "off-ramp" in 10th and drop down to On-Level Pre-Calculus.

Whether they did Honors or On-Level, the kids who finished Pre-Calculus then choose between Calculus AB and Calculus BC. This is another "off-ramp" of sorts because kids who did okay in Honors Pre-Calculus but are not interested in STEM will often take Calculus AB their junior year. The kids who want a STEM career or for whom math comes a bit easier take BC immediately after Pre-Calculus.

It's pretty uncommon to take AB and then BC because it means repeating the entire B section. A kid who is good at math isn't going to want or need that repeated material.

Proposed new system

The proposed new system seems "off" in two ways.

First, Pre-Calculus is moved to 9th grade for the vast majority of kids. Now, we know that under the current system even kids who were "compacted" struggle mightily in Pre-Calculus, and MCPS wants to move it a year earlier AND put more kids into that class?

But then they screw it up a different way, by projecting those kids out to taking Calculus AB in 10th and BC in 11th.

That's a stupid progression and I suspect they know it. It forces "bright-but-not math-oriented" kids into Calculus a year earlier than the current progression, and it ALSO screws over kids ready for BC directly after Pre-Calculus.

What they are trying to cover up is that they don't have enough math available for kids to take in HS if they take Pre-Calculus in 9th. That's why I said parents need to keep their eye on the ball here. They are stretching Calculus into two years so that you don't notice that a math-oriented kid will run out of math classes in 11th grade.

I disagree that doing AB and BC Calc is uncommon or that MCPS is doing it to "cover up" a lack of math offerings. I've had 2 kids graduate from MCPS and 2 kids graduate from private catholic schools. Only my oldest who went to Blair SMCS "skipped" Calc AB. The vast majority of MCPS graduates i know took AB then BC or did AB and then AP stats. You had to have a 98+ GPA in PreCalc in the private catholic to be considered for BC. The vast majority of kids did AB then BC or AB and then AP stats. There is a lot of pressure for high GPAs for college admissions. AB and then BC means higher GPAs and higher test scores on the AP test. Past BC is college-level math. My oldest (who took multivariable) ended up repeating all this math in college.

[Anonymous]

The only thing McPS is accomplishing this revamp is to send more affluent families looking for private middle school options.

Who wants their kid repeating half a year of math because MCPS is just as bad at curriculum planning as it is planning for snow days? They could have at least let the current grade 4 in compact math continue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Equity is about making sure every child has what they need to thrive to their fullest potential. The board and district are not doing equity. Instead they're cutting gifted students off at the knees. This isn't okay.

Keep voting the Apple Ballot! This is their goal.

Oh come on. Stop blaming teachers, they don't like this either. It's central office's fault, not classroom staff.

(And yes, theoretically MCEA should be endorsing BOE members who will hold central office accountable. But apparently it is impossible to find people like that. Year after year, when they're candidates they sound like they're going to take on MCPS and make things better, and then they get into office and roll over. Not sure there's anything else MCEA can do about that.)

MCEA has other priorities. Like rent control and freezing out opposition.

I’m old enough to remember everyone yelling at me on here to vote for Laura Stewart because she was Apple Ballot approved

Let's not forget against whom she was running.

Yes. Laura and her buddies are running MCPS into the ground, but at least they’re doing so with language that doesn’t offend anyone.

This all was started long before Laura was on the BOE. Lets put blame where it belongs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pp mentions that the REAL issue is that this model has kids doing Pre-Calculus in 9th grade, but then Calculus A/B and B/C in succession.What is wrong here? I am not familiar with the math progression here. I am a foreigner. The issue is too difficult or should not break caclcus in A to C, or miss the curriculum of geometry or statistics? Does that mean parents should supplement on their own like IXL, RSM, or AOPS outside of school in some years? I am from Asia, so I am confused what all these mean.

I'm that PP, and here's my issue with that progression.

Current system

Right now, your standard "bright" kid who took compacted math in 4th grade will end up in Honors Pre-Calculus in 10th grade. That's a real crucible year for a lot of kids, and it's not uncommon for kids to take the "off-ramp" in 10th and drop down to On-Level Pre-Calculus.

Whether they did Honors or On-Level, the kids who finished Pre-Calculus then choose between Calculus AB and Calculus BC. This is another "off-ramp" of sorts because kids who did okay in Honors Pre-Calculus but are not interested in STEM will often take Calculus AB their junior year. The kids who want a STEM career or for whom math comes a bit easier take BC immediately after Pre-Calculus.

It's pretty uncommon to take AB and then BC because it means repeating the entire B section. A kid who is good at math isn't going to want or need that repeated material.

Proposed new system

The proposed new system seems "off" in two ways.

First, Pre-Calculus is moved to 9th grade for the vast majority of kids. Now, we know that under the current system even kids who were "compacted" struggle mightily in Pre-Calculus, and MCPS wants to move it a year earlier AND put more kids into that class?

But then they screw it up a different way, by projecting those kids out to taking Calculus AB in 10th and BC in 11th.

That's a stupid progression and I suspect they know it. It forces "bright-but-not math-oriented" kids into Calculus a year earlier than the current progression, and it ALSO screws over kids ready for BC directly after Pre-Calculus.

What they are trying to cover up is that they don't have enough math available for kids to take in HS if they take Pre-Calculus in 9th. That's why I said parents need to keep their eye on the ball here. They are stretching Calculus into two years so that you don't notice that a math-oriented kid will run out of math classes in 11th grade.

I disagree that doing AB and BC Calc is uncommon or that MCPS is doing it to "cover up" a lack of math offerings. I've had 2 kids graduate from MCPS and 2 kids graduate from private catholic schools. Only my oldest who went to Blair SMCS "skipped" Calc AB. The vast majority of MCPS graduates i know took AB then BC or did AB and then AP stats. You had to have a 98+ GPA in PreCalc in the private catholic to be considered for BC. The vast majority of kids did AB then BC or AB and then AP stats. There is a lot of pressure for high GPAs for college admissions. AB and then BC means higher GPAs and higher test scores on the AP test. Past BC is college-level math. My oldest (who took multivariable) ended up repeating all this math in college.

Our school pressures kids to do AB, then BC as there is no other advanced classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So admittedly I am far removed from my own high school experience and my kids are still in ES, but the MS/HS math pathways surprised me a bit- do kids no longer take geometry and trig?

Pre-calc in 9th also seems a bit crazy to me (again this is coming from someone who graduated in the 90s where "accelerated" meant pre-calc in 11th and AP Calc in 12th). But I don't understand what some of these students are meant to take in 12th if they've already had two years of calculus by then.

Acceleration looks like this:

Alg 7th
Geometry 8th
Alg2/Trig 9th
Precalc 10th
Calc 11th
MVC/Diffeq/Stats 12th

That's the route both my kids took (now in college, one about to go). The one in college is a dual math major. They easily passed all their accelerated math classes including MVC/Diffeq. MAPS scores always at highest %ile, PARCC scores always exceeding expectations, 5 on AP cal, 800 on SAT math. Kid would've been incredibly bored in ES without HGC (former name of CES) and compacted math. No, we did not ever tutor DC.

There are a lot of highly educated parents around here, so it's no surprise that there are a lot advanced learners here.

MCPS really is racing to the bottom. We had intentionally moved here for the magnets and acceleration programs. So glad to be done with MCPS before they killed every program that made it great.

On the link provided in the OP, it looks like starting in 2027-2028, there are three potential math pathways students will take (slide 14) where pre-calc may be taken anywhere from 9th-11 grade. Am I understanding this correctly? What is the difference between Math 6, Accel Math 6, and Grade 6 Pre-Alg?

I am partly asking this because we are currently overseas and I've been trying to keep track of where my kids (who currently attend an international school) will land when we return in a couple years. Which is hard when MCPS keeps making changes!

Math 6 = 6th grade math, on track to start algebra in 9th
Accel Math 6/AMP 6+ = 6th & half of 7th grade math (with the other half of 7th+8th taken in 7th grade), on track to start algebra in 8th-- for strong kids in grade-level 5th grade math or kids who did compacted 5/6 who could use a slowdown/reinforcement
Grade 6 Pre-Alg = 7th & 8th grade math (with 6th grade math completed in grade 5 as part of compacted math), on track to start algebra in 7th

Algebra in..

7th - advanced
8th - on track
9th - behind

No.

9th - on-level
8th - advanced / gifted&talented, including most of "selective college" prep.
7th - highly advanced, likely STEM-focused, "UMC" stereotype
6th - math-contest culture, "Asian immigrant scientist parent" stereotype

I don't disagree that Algebra I is a high school level course and some of it may be a result of the current curriculum.

But students taking Algebra I in high school are likely struggling students.

Just look at the MCAP Algebra I proficiency rates on mdreportcard for MCPS. Middle schools top the list.

The highest high school is Churchill, ranked at number 32 out of schools listed with Algebra I test takers, and with a proficiency of 22.2 percent. Followed by Poolesville at 20.8 percent, Whitman is two spots below that with 16.5 percent.

Students are capable of taking Algebra I in middle school and students will raise to the level they're pushed to.

Look at the charter school in DC that won the math competition recently:
https://wtop.com/dc/2026/03/how-students-in-southeast-outperformed-peers-in-some-of-dcs-wealthiest-neighborhoods-on-citywide-math-test/

And it's what the main character was saying in the film Stand and Deliver, which is based on a true story.

There's nothing wrong with taking Algebra I in high school and I believe that students should be placed appropriately at their level to make sure they fully learn what's being taught.

But it seems like MCPS's solution is to try to lower the bar instead of raising the bottom to reach the bar.

At our MS you can't even get into AMP 6+ (which would get you to Algebra in 8th) unless you completed compacted math at your ES. So my 80th percentile MAP-M kid and her similarly scoring peers will all be taking Algebra 1 in 9th.

Is this common?

I wouldn't think so but it may just be in the area or groups I'm in.

I do believe that Algebra I is indeed a high school course and is why the state assessment is a high school graduation requirement. But that's like bare minimum.

The count of 2025 MCAP Algebra I test takers is below, sorted by test taker count. Keep in mind that the middle school counts, goes across all grade levels. (guess it's true for high schools) And let's assume about 30 kids per class. For high schools a good number of students might not be taking the class but need to retake the exam for whatever reason.

You do have high schools near the top of the list with around 400 students taking the test. But there are also high schools at the bottom end with less then 100 students taking the test, so maybe two or three classes? You have to factor in overall high school size too.

Which one is common is hard to say. But as you can see in the list, there are elementary school students taking Algebra I. And using the previous poster's descriptions, for me those students would be the "math-content culture, "Asian immigrant scientist parent" stereotype" And everything else shifts down at least one grade level too.

School Name--Assessment--Tested Count--Proficient Pct
Gaithersburg High--Algebra 1 --437--6.2
Thomas W. Pyle Middle--Algebra 1 --405--80.5
Montgomery Blair High--Algebra 1 --393--10.4
John F. Kennedy High--Algebra 1 --323--<= 5.0
Julius West Middle--Algebra 1 --309--64.4
Cabin John Middle--Algebra 1 --304--55.3
Seneca Valley High--Algebra 1 --302--<= 5.0
Argyle Middle--Algebra 1 --297--8.4
Tilden Middle--Algebra 1 --281--38.8
Wheaton High--Algebra 1 --279--<= 5.0
North Bethesda Middle--Algebra 1 --276--65.6
Herbert Hoover Middle--Algebra 1 --275--57.8
Takoma Park Middle--Algebra 1 --273--62.3
Robert Frost Middle School--Algebra 1 --262--67.6
White Oak Middle--Algebra 1 --259--5.4
Kingsview Middle--Algebra 1 --254--46.5
Hallie Wells Middle--Algebra 1 --249--55.8
Clarksburg High--Algebra 1 --233--5.6
Quince Orchard High--Algebra 1 --230--<= 5.0
Col. Zadok Magruder High--Algebra 1 --225--<= 5.0
Northwood High--Algebra 1 --215--<= 5.0
Richard Montgomery High--Algebra 1 --212--5.2
Eastern Middle--Algebra 1 --211--46.0
Westland Middle--Algebra 1 --199--57.3
Lakelands Park Middle--Algebra 1 --198--54.0
Albert Einstein High--Algebra 1 --196--5.1
Bethesda-Chevy Chase High--Algebra 1 --193--15.0
Walter Johnson High--Algebra 1 --190--11.6
Parkland Middle--Algebra 1 --190--26.3
Rosa M. Parks Middle--Algebra 1 --179--38.0
William H. Farquhar Middle--Algebra 1 --175--29.7
Springbrook High--Algebra 1 --174--6.9
Rocky Hill Middle--Algebra 1 --159--36.5
Earle B. Wood Middle--Algebra 1 --156--54.5
Northwest High--Algebra 1 --153--7.8
Silver Creek Middle--Algebra 1 --149--47.7
Damascus High--Algebra 1 --148--5.4
Silver Spring International Middle--Algebra 1 --145--37.2
Briggs Chaney Middle--Algebra 1 --143--22.4
Sherwood High--Algebra 1 --141--13.5
Ridgeview Middle--Algebra 1 --140--26.4
Roberto W. Clemente Middle--Algebra 1 --138--34.1
Watkins Mill High--Algebra 1 --137--<= 5.0
John T. Baker Middle School--Algebra 1 --136--34.6
A. Mario Loiederman Middle--Algebra 1 --133--15.0
Sligo Middle--Algebra 1 --119--36.1
Redland Middle--Algebra 1 --114--32.5
John Poole Middle--Algebra 1 --110--52.7
Martin Luther King Jr. Middle--Algebra 1 --109--56.9
Neelsville Middle--Algebra 1 --103--16.5
Walt Whitman High--Algebra 1 --103--16.5
Shady Grove Middle--Algebra 1 --93--16.1
Francis Scott Key Middle--Algebra 1 --89--15.7
Forest Oak Middle--Algebra 1 --88--8.0
Gaithersburg Middle--Algebra 1 --88--28.4
Newport Mill Middle--Algebra 1 --86--50.0
Odessa Shannon Middle--Algebra 1 --85--25.9
James Hubert Blake High--Algebra 1 --74--<= 5.0
Winston Churchill High--Algebra 1 --72--22.2
Thomas S. Wootton High--Algebra 1 --55--5.5
Paint Branch High--Algebra 1 --55--9.1
Poolesville High--Algebra 1 --53--20.8
Benjamin Banneker Middle--Algebra 1 --43--46.5
Montgomery Village Middle--Algebra 1 --42--<= 5.0
Rockville High--Algebra 1 --35--<= 5.0
John L Gildner Regional Inst for Children & Adol--Algebra 1 --13--<= 5.0
Ritchie Park Elementary--Algebra 1 --*--*
Cold Spring Elementary--Algebra 1 --*--*
Alternative Programs--Algebra 1 --*--*
Bells Mill Elementary--Algebra 1 --*--*

How are there high schools with less than 100 kids taking Algebra 1? Are there middle schools where they put all (or virtually all) of the kids on the advanced track (not the double-advanced track with Algebra 1 in 7th, just the single-advanced track where you do compacted 6-8 math in two years)?

Yes.
Some of those middle schools have almost the entire school taking Algebra, as the chart shows. Even kids from non-compacted Math 5 can hop up to AMP 6+ -> 7+ -> Algebra if they are doing very well.

Most people who can afford $500K+ houses can get their kids to Algebra by 8th grade

We're in a medium, but not super well off MCPS MS and when I moved in I was told that roughtly a 1/3 of kids would take Algebra in 7th grade, 1/3 in 8th grade and only the bottom 1/3 would do it in 9th grade.

My 6th grader is in a mainstream private in MoCo. She said about 1/3 of the class is in pre-algebra (on track for algebra 1 in 7th grade, 1/3 is on track for algebra 1 in 8th grade, and 1/3 on track for algebra 1 in 9th grade (absent any summer courses). I can't imagine how you have a majority of kids in compacted math in so many public schools who are truly able to handle the material and succeed long-term. (FWIW my kid's pre-algebra homework looks like what I did in 9th grade.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So admittedly I am far removed from my own high school experience and my kids are still in ES, but the MS/HS math pathways surprised me a bit- do kids no longer take geometry and trig?

Pre-calc in 9th also seems a bit crazy to me (again this is coming from someone who graduated in the 90s where "accelerated" meant pre-calc in 11th and AP Calc in 12th). But I don't understand what some of these students are meant to take in 12th if they've already had two years of calculus by then.

Acceleration looks like this:

Alg 7th
Geometry 8th
Alg2/Trig 9th
Precalc 10th
Calc 11th
MVC/Diffeq/Stats 12th

That's the route both my kids took (now in college, one about to go). The one in college is a dual math major. They easily passed all their accelerated math classes including MVC/Diffeq. MAPS scores always at highest %ile, PARCC scores always exceeding expectations, 5 on AP cal, 800 on SAT math. Kid would've been incredibly bored in ES without HGC (former name of CES) and compacted math. No, we did not ever tutor DC.

There are a lot of highly educated parents around here, so it's no surprise that there are a lot advanced learners here.

MCPS really is racing to the bottom. We had intentionally moved here for the magnets and acceleration programs. So glad to be done with MCPS before they killed every program that made it great.

On the link provided in the OP, it looks like starting in 2027-2028, there are three potential math pathways students will take (slide 14) where pre-calc may be taken anywhere from 9th-11 grade. Am I understanding this correctly? What is the difference between Math 6, Accel Math 6, and Grade 6 Pre-Alg?

I am partly asking this because we are currently overseas and I've been trying to keep track of where my kids (who currently attend an international school) will land when we return in a couple years. Which is hard when MCPS keeps making changes!

Math 6 = 6th grade math, on track to start algebra in 9th
Accel Math 6/AMP 6+ = 6th & half of 7th grade math (with the other half of 7th+8th taken in 7th grade), on track to start algebra in 8th-- for strong kids in grade-level 5th grade math or kids who did compacted 5/6 who could use a slowdown/reinforcement
Grade 6 Pre-Alg = 7th & 8th grade math (with 6th grade math completed in grade 5 as part of compacted math), on track to start algebra in 7th

Algebra in..

7th - advanced
8th - on track
9th - behind

No.

9th - on-level
8th - advanced / gifted&talented, including most of "selective college" prep.
7th - highly advanced, likely STEM-focused, "UMC" stereotype
6th - math-contest culture, "Asian immigrant scientist parent" stereotype

I don't disagree that Algebra I is a high school level course and some of it may be a result of the current curriculum.

But students taking Algebra I in high school are likely struggling students.

Just look at the MCAP Algebra I proficiency rates on mdreportcard for MCPS. Middle schools top the list.

The highest high school is Churchill, ranked at number 32 out of schools listed with Algebra I test takers, and with a proficiency of 22.2 percent. Followed by Poolesville at 20.8 percent, Whitman is two spots below that with 16.5 percent.

Students are capable of taking Algebra I in middle school and students will raise to the level they're pushed to.

Look at the charter school in DC that won the math competition recently:
https://wtop.com/dc/2026/03/how-students-in-southeast-outperformed-peers-in-some-of-dcs-wealthiest-neighborhoods-on-citywide-math-test/

And it's what the main character was saying in the film Stand and Deliver, which is based on a true story.

There's nothing wrong with taking Algebra I in high school and I believe that students should be placed appropriately at their level to make sure they fully learn what's being taught.

But it seems like MCPS's solution is to try to lower the bar instead of raising the bottom to reach the bar.

At our MS you can't even get into AMP 6+ (which would get you to Algebra in 8th) unless you completed compacted math at your ES. So my 80th percentile MAP-M kid and her similarly scoring peers will all be taking Algebra 1 in 9th.

Is this common?

I wouldn't think so but it may just be in the area or groups I'm in.

I do believe that Algebra I is indeed a high school course and is why the state assessment is a high school graduation requirement. But that's like bare minimum.

The count of 2025 MCAP Algebra I test takers is below, sorted by test taker count. Keep in mind that the middle school counts, goes across all grade levels. (guess it's true for high schools) And let's assume about 30 kids per class. For high schools a good number of students might not be taking the class but need to retake the exam for whatever reason.

You do have high schools near the top of the list with around 400 students taking the test. But there are also high schools at the bottom end with less then 100 students taking the test, so maybe two or three classes? You have to factor in overall high school size too.

Which one is common is hard to say. But as you can see in the list, there are elementary school students taking Algebra I. And using the previous poster's descriptions, for me those students would be the "math-content culture, "Asian immigrant scientist parent" stereotype" And everything else shifts down at least one grade level too.

School Name--Assessment--Tested Count--Proficient Pct
Gaithersburg High--Algebra 1 --437--6.2
Thomas W. Pyle Middle--Algebra 1 --405--80.5
Montgomery Blair High--Algebra 1 --393--10.4
John F. Kennedy High--Algebra 1 --323--<= 5.0
Julius West Middle--Algebra 1 --309--64.4
Cabin John Middle--Algebra 1 --304--55.3
Seneca Valley High--Algebra 1 --302--<= 5.0
Argyle Middle--Algebra 1 --297--8.4
Tilden Middle--Algebra 1 --281--38.8
Wheaton High--Algebra 1 --279--<= 5.0
North Bethesda Middle--Algebra 1 --276--65.6
Herbert Hoover Middle--Algebra 1 --275--57.8
Takoma Park Middle--Algebra 1 --273--62.3
Robert Frost Middle School--Algebra 1 --262--67.6
White Oak Middle--Algebra 1 --259--5.4
Kingsview Middle--Algebra 1 --254--46.5
Hallie Wells Middle--Algebra 1 --249--55.8
Clarksburg High--Algebra 1 --233--5.6
Quince Orchard High--Algebra 1 --230--<= 5.0
Col. Zadok Magruder High--Algebra 1 --225--<= 5.0
Northwood High--Algebra 1 --215--<= 5.0
Richard Montgomery High--Algebra 1 --212--5.2
Eastern Middle--Algebra 1 --211--46.0
Westland Middle--Algebra 1 --199--57.3
Lakelands Park Middle--Algebra 1 --198--54.0
Albert Einstein High--Algebra 1 --196--5.1
Bethesda-Chevy Chase High--Algebra 1 --193--15.0
Walter Johnson High--Algebra 1 --190--11.6
Parkland Middle--Algebra 1 --190--26.3
Rosa M. Parks Middle--Algebra 1 --179--38.0
William H. Farquhar Middle--Algebra 1 --175--29.7
Springbrook High--Algebra 1 --174--6.9
Rocky Hill Middle--Algebra 1 --159--36.5
Earle B. Wood Middle--Algebra 1 --156--54.5
Northwest High--Algebra 1 --153--7.8
Silver Creek Middle--Algebra 1 --149--47.7
Damascus High--Algebra 1 --148--5.4
Silver Spring International Middle--Algebra 1 --145--37.2
Briggs Chaney Middle--Algebra 1 --143--22.4
Sherwood High--Algebra 1 --141--13.5
Ridgeview Middle--Algebra 1 --140--26.4
Roberto W. Clemente Middle--Algebra 1 --138--34.1
Watkins Mill High--Algebra 1 --137--<= 5.0
John T. Baker Middle School--Algebra 1 --136--34.6
A. Mario Loiederman Middle--Algebra 1 --133--15.0
Sligo Middle--Algebra 1 --119--36.1
Redland Middle--Algebra 1 --114--32.5
John Poole Middle--Algebra 1 --110--52.7
Martin Luther King Jr. Middle--Algebra 1 --109--56.9
Neelsville Middle--Algebra 1 --103--16.5
Walt Whitman High--Algebra 1 --103--16.5
Shady Grove Middle--Algebra 1 --93--16.1
Francis Scott Key Middle--Algebra 1 --89--15.7
Forest Oak Middle--Algebra 1 --88--8.0
Gaithersburg Middle--Algebra 1 --88--28.4
Newport Mill Middle--Algebra 1 --86--50.0
Odessa Shannon Middle--Algebra 1 --85--25.9
James Hubert Blake High--Algebra 1 --74--<= 5.0
Winston Churchill High--Algebra 1 --72--22.2
Thomas S. Wootton High--Algebra 1 --55--5.5
Paint Branch High--Algebra 1 --55--9.1
Poolesville High--Algebra 1 --53--20.8
Benjamin Banneker Middle--Algebra 1 --43--46.5
Montgomery Village Middle--Algebra 1 --42--<= 5.0
Rockville High--Algebra 1 --35--<= 5.0
John L Gildner Regional Inst for Children & Adol--Algebra 1 --13--<= 5.0
Ritchie Park Elementary--Algebra 1 --*--*
Cold Spring Elementary--Algebra 1 --*--*
Alternative Programs--Algebra 1 --*--*
Bells Mill Elementary--Algebra 1 --*--*

How are there high schools with less than 100 kids taking Algebra 1? Are there middle schools where they put all (or virtually all) of the kids on the advanced track (not the double-advanced track with Algebra 1 in 7th, just the single-advanced track where you do compacted 6-8 math in two years)?

Yes.
Some of those middle schools have almost the entire school taking Algebra, as the chart shows. Even kids from non-compacted Math 5 can hop up to AMP 6+ -> 7+ -> Algebra if they are doing very well.

Most people who can afford $500K+ houses can get their kids to Algebra by 8th grade

We're in a medium, but not super well off MCPS MS and when I moved in I was told that roughtly a 1/3 of kids would take Algebra in 7th grade, 1/3 in 8th grade and only the bottom 1/3 would do it in 9th grade.

My 6th grader is in a mainstream private in MoCo. She said about 1/3 of the class is in pre-algebra (on track for algebra 1 in 7th grade, 1/3 is on track for algebra 1 in 8th grade, and 1/3 on track for algebra 1 in 9th grade (absent any summer courses). I can't imagine how you have a majority of kids in compacted math in so many public schools who are truly able to handle the material and succeed long-term. (FWIW my kid's pre-algebra homework looks like what I did in 9th grade.)

In my kids’ ES, they pretty much let any kid who isn’t terrible at math into compact math if their parents push hard enough even if the MAP-M scores are in the 60s or 70th pctile rather than 80s or 90s. So we have a compact math class of 38 kids while the other 2 classes of middle and lower performing kids are much smaller.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So admittedly I am far removed from my own high school experience and my kids are still in ES, but the MS/HS math pathways surprised me a bit- do kids no longer take geometry and trig?

Pre-calc in 9th also seems a bit crazy to me (again this is coming from someone who graduated in the 90s where "accelerated" meant pre-calc in 11th and AP Calc in 12th). But I don't understand what some of these students are meant to take in 12th if they've already had two years of calculus by then.

Acceleration looks like this:

Alg 7th
Geometry 8th
Alg2/Trig 9th
Precalc 10th
Calc 11th
MVC/Diffeq/Stats 12th

That's the route both my kids took (now in college, one about to go). The one in college is a dual math major. They easily passed all their accelerated math classes including MVC/Diffeq. MAPS scores always at highest %ile, PARCC scores always exceeding expectations, 5 on AP cal, 800 on SAT math. Kid would've been incredibly bored in ES without HGC (former name of CES) and compacted math. No, we did not ever tutor DC.

There are a lot of highly educated parents around here, so it's no surprise that there are a lot advanced learners here.

MCPS really is racing to the bottom. We had intentionally moved here for the magnets and acceleration programs. So glad to be done with MCPS before they killed every program that made it great.

On the link provided in the OP, it looks like starting in 2027-2028, there are three potential math pathways students will take (slide 14) where pre-calc may be taken anywhere from 9th-11 grade. Am I understanding this correctly? What is the difference between Math 6, Accel Math 6, and Grade 6 Pre-Alg?

I am partly asking this because we are currently overseas and I've been trying to keep track of where my kids (who currently attend an international school) will land when we return in a couple years. Which is hard when MCPS keeps making changes!

Math 6 = 6th grade math, on track to start algebra in 9th
Accel Math 6/AMP 6+ = 6th & half of 7th grade math (with the other half of 7th+8th taken in 7th grade), on track to start algebra in 8th-- for strong kids in grade-level 5th grade math or kids who did compacted 5/6 who could use a slowdown/reinforcement
Grade 6 Pre-Alg = 7th & 8th grade math (with 6th grade math completed in grade 5 as part of compacted math), on track to start algebra in 7th

Algebra in..

7th - advanced
8th - on track
9th - behind

No.

9th - on-level
8th - advanced / gifted&talented, including most of "selective college" prep.
7th - highly advanced, likely STEM-focused, "UMC" stereotype
6th - math-contest culture, "Asian immigrant scientist parent" stereotype

I don't disagree that Algebra I is a high school level course and some of it may be a result of the current curriculum.

But students taking Algebra I in high school are likely struggling students.

Just look at the MCAP Algebra I proficiency rates on mdreportcard for MCPS. Middle schools top the list.

The highest high school is Churchill, ranked at number 32 out of schools listed with Algebra I test takers, and with a proficiency of 22.2 percent. Followed by Poolesville at 20.8 percent, Whitman is two spots below that with 16.5 percent.

Students are capable of taking Algebra I in middle school and students will raise to the level they're pushed to.

Look at the charter school in DC that won the math competition recently:
https://wtop.com/dc/2026/03/how-students-in-southeast-outperformed-peers-in-some-of-dcs-wealthiest-neighborhoods-on-citywide-math-test/

And it's what the main character was saying in the film Stand and Deliver, which is based on a true story.

There's nothing wrong with taking Algebra I in high school and I believe that students should be placed appropriately at their level to make sure they fully learn what's being taught.

But it seems like MCPS's solution is to try to lower the bar instead of raising the bottom to reach the bar.

At our MS you can't even get into AMP 6+ (which would get you to Algebra in 8th) unless you completed compacted math at your ES. So my 80th percentile MAP-M kid and her similarly scoring peers will all be taking Algebra 1 in 9th.

Is this common?

I wouldn't think so but it may just be in the area or groups I'm in.

I do believe that Algebra I is indeed a high school course and is why the state assessment is a high school graduation requirement. But that's like bare minimum.

The count of 2025 MCAP Algebra I test takers is below, sorted by test taker count. Keep in mind that the middle school counts, goes across all grade levels. (guess it's true for high schools) And let's assume about 30 kids per class. For high schools a good number of students might not be taking the class but need to retake the exam for whatever reason.

You do have high schools near the top of the list with around 400 students taking the test. But there are also high schools at the bottom end with less then 100 students taking the test, so maybe two or three classes? You have to factor in overall high school size too.

Which one is common is hard to say. But as you can see in the list, there are elementary school students taking Algebra I. And using the previous poster's descriptions, for me those students would be the "math-content culture, "Asian immigrant scientist parent" stereotype" And everything else shifts down at least one grade level too.

School Name--Assessment--Tested Count--Proficient Pct
Gaithersburg High--Algebra 1 --437--6.2
Thomas W. Pyle Middle--Algebra 1 --405--80.5
Montgomery Blair High--Algebra 1 --393--10.4
John F. Kennedy High--Algebra 1 --323--<= 5.0
Julius West Middle--Algebra 1 --309--64.4
Cabin John Middle--Algebra 1 --304--55.3
Seneca Valley High--Algebra 1 --302--<= 5.0
Argyle Middle--Algebra 1 --297--8.4
Tilden Middle--Algebra 1 --281--38.8
Wheaton High--Algebra 1 --279--<= 5.0
North Bethesda Middle--Algebra 1 --276--65.6
Herbert Hoover Middle--Algebra 1 --275--57.8
Takoma Park Middle--Algebra 1 --273--62.3
Robert Frost Middle School--Algebra 1 --262--67.6
White Oak Middle--Algebra 1 --259--5.4
Kingsview Middle--Algebra 1 --254--46.5
Hallie Wells Middle--Algebra 1 --249--55.8
Clarksburg High--Algebra 1 --233--5.6
Quince Orchard High--Algebra 1 --230--<= 5.0
Col. Zadok Magruder High--Algebra 1 --225--<= 5.0
Northwood High--Algebra 1 --215--<= 5.0
Richard Montgomery High--Algebra 1 --212--5.2
Eastern Middle--Algebra 1 --211--46.0
Westland Middle--Algebra 1 --199--57.3
Lakelands Park Middle--Algebra 1 --198--54.0
Albert Einstein High--Algebra 1 --196--5.1
Bethesda-Chevy Chase High--Algebra 1 --193--15.0
Walter Johnson High--Algebra 1 --190--11.6
Parkland Middle--Algebra 1 --190--26.3
Rosa M. Parks Middle--Algebra 1 --179--38.0
William H. Farquhar Middle--Algebra 1 --175--29.7
Springbrook High--Algebra 1 --174--6.9
Rocky Hill Middle--Algebra 1 --159--36.5
Earle B. Wood Middle--Algebra 1 --156--54.5
Northwest High--Algebra 1 --153--7.8
Silver Creek Middle--Algebra 1 --149--47.7
Damascus High--Algebra 1 --148--5.4
Silver Spring International Middle--Algebra 1 --145--37.2
Briggs Chaney Middle--Algebra 1 --143--22.4
Sherwood High--Algebra 1 --141--13.5
Ridgeview Middle--Algebra 1 --140--26.4
Roberto W. Clemente Middle--Algebra 1 --138--34.1
Watkins Mill High--Algebra 1 --137--<= 5.0
John T. Baker Middle School--Algebra 1 --136--34.6
A. Mario Loiederman Middle--Algebra 1 --133--15.0
Sligo Middle--Algebra 1 --119--36.1
Redland Middle--Algebra 1 --114--32.5
John Poole Middle--Algebra 1 --110--52.7
Martin Luther King Jr. Middle--Algebra 1 --109--56.9
Neelsville Middle--Algebra 1 --103--16.5
Walt Whitman High--Algebra 1 --103--16.5
Shady Grove Middle--Algebra 1 --93--16.1
Francis Scott Key Middle--Algebra 1 --89--15.7
Forest Oak Middle--Algebra 1 --88--8.0
Gaithersburg Middle--Algebra 1 --88--28.4
Newport Mill Middle--Algebra 1 --86--50.0
Odessa Shannon Middle--Algebra 1 --85--25.9
James Hubert Blake High--Algebra 1 --74--<= 5.0
Winston Churchill High--Algebra 1 --72--22.2
Thomas S. Wootton High--Algebra 1 --55--5.5
Paint Branch High--Algebra 1 --55--9.1
Poolesville High--Algebra 1 --53--20.8
Benjamin Banneker Middle--Algebra 1 --43--46.5
Montgomery Village Middle--Algebra 1 --42--<= 5.0
Rockville High--Algebra 1 --35--<= 5.0
John L Gildner Regional Inst for Children & Adol--Algebra 1 --13--<= 5.0
Ritchie Park Elementary--Algebra 1 --*--*
Cold Spring Elementary--Algebra 1 --*--*
Alternative Programs--Algebra 1 --*--*
Bells Mill Elementary--Algebra 1 --*--*

How are there high schools with less than 100 kids taking Algebra 1? Are there middle schools where they put all (or virtually all) of the kids on the advanced track (not the double-advanced track with Algebra 1 in 7th, just the single-advanced track where you do compacted 6-8 math in two years)?

Yes.
Some of those middle schools have almost the entire school taking Algebra, as the chart shows. Even kids from non-compacted Math 5 can hop up to AMP 6+ -> 7+ -> Algebra if they are doing very well.

Most people who can afford $500K+ houses can get their kids to Algebra by 8th grade

We're in a medium, but not super well off MCPS MS and when I moved in I was told that roughtly a 1/3 of kids would take Algebra in 7th grade, 1/3 in 8th grade and only the bottom 1/3 would do it in 9th grade.

My 6th grader is in a mainstream private in MoCo. She said about 1/3 of the class is in pre-algebra (on track for algebra 1 in 7th grade, 1/3 is on track for algebra 1 in 8th grade, and 1/3 on track for algebra 1 in 9th grade (absent any summer courses). I can't imagine how you have a majority of kids in compacted math in so many public schools who are truly able to handle the material and succeed long-term. (FWIW my kid's pre-algebra homework looks like what I did in 9th grade.)

Some areas have higher concentration of smarter kids who test well. Why is it hard to believe?

[Anonymous]

W school parent here—my kid took precalc in 9th. At the end of the year he was assigned to AB calc. No idea who did the assigning or how it was decided what level. I saw an email a few days after course selections come out from my kids precalc teacher that AB was the wrong level and he should be placed in BC. So far so good this year. I’m interested to see how he scores on the exam.

We are lucky to attend a school with post BC offerings. I have no idea how many kids will be in his math class next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So admittedly I am far removed from my own high school experience and my kids are still in ES, but the MS/HS math pathways surprised me a bit- do kids no longer take geometry and trig?

Pre-calc in 9th also seems a bit crazy to me (again this is coming from someone who graduated in the 90s where "accelerated" meant pre-calc in 11th and AP Calc in 12th). But I don't understand what some of these students are meant to take in 12th if they've already had two years of calculus by then.

Acceleration looks like this:

Alg 7th
Geometry 8th
Alg2/Trig 9th
Precalc 10th
Calc 11th
MVC/Diffeq/Stats 12th

That's the route both my kids took (now in college, one about to go). The one in college is a dual math major. They easily passed all their accelerated math classes including MVC/Diffeq. MAPS scores always at highest %ile, PARCC scores always exceeding expectations, 5 on AP cal, 800 on SAT math. Kid would've been incredibly bored in ES without HGC (former name of CES) and compacted math. No, we did not ever tutor DC.

There are a lot of highly educated parents around here, so it's no surprise that there are a lot advanced learners here.

MCPS really is racing to the bottom. We had intentionally moved here for the magnets and acceleration programs. So glad to be done with MCPS before they killed every program that made it great.

On the link provided in the OP, it looks like starting in 2027-2028, there are three potential math pathways students will take (slide 14) where pre-calc may be taken anywhere from 9th-11 grade. Am I understanding this correctly? What is the difference between Math 6, Accel Math 6, and Grade 6 Pre-Alg?

I am partly asking this because we are currently overseas and I've been trying to keep track of where my kids (who currently attend an international school) will land when we return in a couple years. Which is hard when MCPS keeps making changes!

Math 6 = 6th grade math, on track to start algebra in 9th
Accel Math 6/AMP 6+ = 6th & half of 7th grade math (with the other half of 7th+8th taken in 7th grade), on track to start algebra in 8th-- for strong kids in grade-level 5th grade math or kids who did compacted 5/6 who could use a slowdown/reinforcement
Grade 6 Pre-Alg = 7th & 8th grade math (with 6th grade math completed in grade 5 as part of compacted math), on track to start algebra in 7th

Algebra in..

7th - advanced
8th - on track
9th - behind

No.

9th - on-level
8th - advanced / gifted&talented, including most of "selective college" prep.
7th - highly advanced, likely STEM-focused, "UMC" stereotype
6th - math-contest culture, "Asian immigrant scientist parent" stereotype

I don't disagree that Algebra I is a high school level course and some of it may be a result of the current curriculum.

But students taking Algebra I in high school are likely struggling students.

Just look at the MCAP Algebra I proficiency rates on mdreportcard for MCPS. Middle schools top the list.

The highest high school is Churchill, ranked at number 32 out of schools listed with Algebra I test takers, and with a proficiency of 22.2 percent. Followed by Poolesville at 20.8 percent, Whitman is two spots below that with 16.5 percent.

Students are capable of taking Algebra I in middle school and students will raise to the level they're pushed to.

Look at the charter school in DC that won the math competition recently:
https://wtop.com/dc/2026/03/how-students-in-southeast-outperformed-peers-in-some-of-dcs-wealthiest-neighborhoods-on-citywide-math-test/

And it's what the main character was saying in the film Stand and Deliver, which is based on a true story.

There's nothing wrong with taking Algebra I in high school and I believe that students should be placed appropriately at their level to make sure they fully learn what's being taught.

But it seems like MCPS's solution is to try to lower the bar instead of raising the bottom to reach the bar.

At our MS you can't even get into AMP 6+ (which would get you to Algebra in 8th) unless you completed compacted math at your ES. So my 80th percentile MAP-M kid and her similarly scoring peers will all be taking Algebra 1 in 9th.

Is this common?

I wouldn't think so but it may just be in the area or groups I'm in.

I do believe that Algebra I is indeed a high school course and is why the state assessment is a high school graduation requirement. But that's like bare minimum.

The count of 2025 MCAP Algebra I test takers is below, sorted by test taker count. Keep in mind that the middle school counts, goes across all grade levels. (guess it's true for high schools) And let's assume about 30 kids per class. For high schools a good number of students might not be taking the class but need to retake the exam for whatever reason.

You do have high schools near the top of the list with around 400 students taking the test. But there are also high schools at the bottom end with less then 100 students taking the test, so maybe two or three classes? You have to factor in overall high school size too.

Which one is common is hard to say. But as you can see in the list, there are elementary school students taking Algebra I. And using the previous poster's descriptions, for me those students would be the "math-content culture, "Asian immigrant scientist parent" stereotype" And everything else shifts down at least one grade level too.

School Name--Assessment--Tested Count--Proficient Pct
Gaithersburg High--Algebra 1 --437--6.2
Thomas W. Pyle Middle--Algebra 1 --405--80.5
Montgomery Blair High--Algebra 1 --393--10.4
John F. Kennedy High--Algebra 1 --323--<= 5.0
Julius West Middle--Algebra 1 --309--64.4
Cabin John Middle--Algebra 1 --304--55.3
Seneca Valley High--Algebra 1 --302--<= 5.0
Argyle Middle--Algebra 1 --297--8.4
Tilden Middle--Algebra 1 --281--38.8
Wheaton High--Algebra 1 --279--<= 5.0
North Bethesda Middle--Algebra 1 --276--65.6
Herbert Hoover Middle--Algebra 1 --275--57.8
Takoma Park Middle--Algebra 1 --273--62.3
Robert Frost Middle School--Algebra 1 --262--67.6
White Oak Middle--Algebra 1 --259--5.4
Kingsview Middle--Algebra 1 --254--46.5
Hallie Wells Middle--Algebra 1 --249--55.8
Clarksburg High--Algebra 1 --233--5.6
Quince Orchard High--Algebra 1 --230--<= 5.0
Col. Zadok Magruder High--Algebra 1 --225--<= 5.0
Northwood High--Algebra 1 --215--<= 5.0
Richard Montgomery High--Algebra 1 --212--5.2
Eastern Middle--Algebra 1 --211--46.0
Westland Middle--Algebra 1 --199--57.3
Lakelands Park Middle--Algebra 1 --198--54.0
Albert Einstein High--Algebra 1 --196--5.1
Bethesda-Chevy Chase High--Algebra 1 --193--15.0
Walter Johnson High--Algebra 1 --190--11.6
Parkland Middle--Algebra 1 --190--26.3
Rosa M. Parks Middle--Algebra 1 --179--38.0
William H. Farquhar Middle--Algebra 1 --175--29.7
Springbrook High--Algebra 1 --174--6.9
Rocky Hill Middle--Algebra 1 --159--36.5
Earle B. Wood Middle--Algebra 1 --156--54.5
Northwest High--Algebra 1 --153--7.8
Silver Creek Middle--Algebra 1 --149--47.7
Damascus High--Algebra 1 --148--5.4
Silver Spring International Middle--Algebra 1 --145--37.2
Briggs Chaney Middle--Algebra 1 --143--22.4
Sherwood High--Algebra 1 --141--13.5
Ridgeview Middle--Algebra 1 --140--26.4
Roberto W. Clemente Middle--Algebra 1 --138--34.1
Watkins Mill High--Algebra 1 --137--<= 5.0
John T. Baker Middle School--Algebra 1 --136--34.6
A. Mario Loiederman Middle--Algebra 1 --133--15.0
Sligo Middle--Algebra 1 --119--36.1
Redland Middle--Algebra 1 --114--32.5
John Poole Middle--Algebra 1 --110--52.7
Martin Luther King Jr. Middle--Algebra 1 --109--56.9
Neelsville Middle--Algebra 1 --103--16.5
Walt Whitman High--Algebra 1 --103--16.5
Shady Grove Middle--Algebra 1 --93--16.1
Francis Scott Key Middle--Algebra 1 --89--15.7
Forest Oak Middle--Algebra 1 --88--8.0
Gaithersburg Middle--Algebra 1 --88--28.4
Newport Mill Middle--Algebra 1 --86--50.0
Odessa Shannon Middle--Algebra 1 --85--25.9
James Hubert Blake High--Algebra 1 --74--<= 5.0
Winston Churchill High--Algebra 1 --72--22.2
Thomas S. Wootton High--Algebra 1 --55--5.5
Paint Branch High--Algebra 1 --55--9.1
Poolesville High--Algebra 1 --53--20.8
Benjamin Banneker Middle--Algebra 1 --43--46.5
Montgomery Village Middle--Algebra 1 --42--<= 5.0
Rockville High--Algebra 1 --35--<= 5.0
John L Gildner Regional Inst for Children & Adol--Algebra 1 --13--<= 5.0
Ritchie Park Elementary--Algebra 1 --*--*
Cold Spring Elementary--Algebra 1 --*--*
Alternative Programs--Algebra 1 --*--*
Bells Mill Elementary--Algebra 1 --*--*

How are there high schools with less than 100 kids taking Algebra 1? Are there middle schools where they put all (or virtually all) of the kids on the advanced track (not the double-advanced track with Algebra 1 in 7th, just the single-advanced track where you do compacted 6-8 math in two years)?

Yes.
Some of those middle schools have almost the entire school taking Algebra, as the chart shows. Even kids from non-compacted Math 5 can hop up to AMP 6+ -> 7+ -> Algebra if they are doing very well.

Most people who can afford $500K+ houses can get their kids to Algebra by 8th grade

We're in a medium, but not super well off MCPS MS and when I moved in I was told that roughtly a 1/3 of kids would take Algebra in 7th grade, 1/3 in 8th grade and only the bottom 1/3 would do it in 9th grade.

My 6th grader is in a mainstream private in MoCo. She said about 1/3 of the class is in pre-algebra (on track for algebra 1 in 7th grade, 1/3 is on track for algebra 1 in 8th grade, and 1/3 on track for algebra 1 in 9th grade (absent any summer courses). I can't imagine how you have a majority of kids in compacted math in so many public schools who are truly able to handle the material and succeed long-term. (FWIW my kid's pre-algebra homework looks like what I did in 9th grade.)

Some areas have higher concentration of smarter kids who test well. Why is it hard to believe?

Well clearly they aren't testing well a few years later ..my point is that at my kid's 60k/year school with highly educated and engaged parents, the school only thinks that 1/3 of them are capable of succeeding in algebra 1 in 7th grade. There's no way a majority of kids at most public schools (even high SES ones) have the ability to succeed on that path long-term. I agree the path should exist but that the entry requirements should be higher. You're not doing kids any favors by putting them in a math level that they can't actually handle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So admittedly I am far removed from my own high school experience and my kids are still in ES, but the MS/HS math pathways surprised me a bit- do kids no longer take geometry and trig?

Pre-calc in 9th also seems a bit crazy to me (again this is coming from someone who graduated in the 90s where "accelerated" meant pre-calc in 11th and AP Calc in 12th). But I don't understand what some of these students are meant to take in 12th if they've already had two years of calculus by then.

Acceleration looks like this:

Alg 7th
Geometry 8th
Alg2/Trig 9th
Precalc 10th
Calc 11th
MVC/Diffeq/Stats 12th

That's the route both my kids took (now in college, one about to go). The one in college is a dual math major. They easily passed all their accelerated math classes including MVC/Diffeq. MAPS scores always at highest %ile, PARCC scores always exceeding expectations, 5 on AP cal, 800 on SAT math. Kid would've been incredibly bored in ES without HGC (former name of CES) and compacted math. No, we did not ever tutor DC.

There are a lot of highly educated parents around here, so it's no surprise that there are a lot advanced learners here.

MCPS really is racing to the bottom. We had intentionally moved here for the magnets and acceleration programs. So glad to be done with MCPS before they killed every program that made it great.

On the link provided in the OP, it looks like starting in 2027-2028, there are three potential math pathways students will take (slide 14) where pre-calc may be taken anywhere from 9th-11 grade. Am I understanding this correctly? What is the difference between Math 6, Accel Math 6, and Grade 6 Pre-Alg?

I am partly asking this because we are currently overseas and I've been trying to keep track of where my kids (who currently attend an international school) will land when we return in a couple years. Which is hard when MCPS keeps making changes!

Math 6 = 6th grade math, on track to start algebra in 9th
Accel Math 6/AMP 6+ = 6th & half of 7th grade math (with the other half of 7th+8th taken in 7th grade), on track to start algebra in 8th-- for strong kids in grade-level 5th grade math or kids who did compacted 5/6 who could use a slowdown/reinforcement
Grade 6 Pre-Alg = 7th & 8th grade math (with 6th grade math completed in grade 5 as part of compacted math), on track to start algebra in 7th

Algebra in..

7th - advanced
8th - on track
9th - behind

No.

9th - on-level
8th - advanced / gifted&talented, including most of "selective college" prep.
7th - highly advanced, likely STEM-focused, "UMC" stereotype
6th - math-contest culture, "Asian immigrant scientist parent" stereotype

I don't disagree that Algebra I is a high school level course and some of it may be a result of the current curriculum.

But students taking Algebra I in high school are likely struggling students.

Just look at the MCAP Algebra I proficiency rates on mdreportcard for MCPS. Middle schools top the list.

The highest high school is Churchill, ranked at number 32 out of schools listed with Algebra I test takers, and with a proficiency of 22.2 percent. Followed by Poolesville at 20.8 percent, Whitman is two spots below that with 16.5 percent.

Students are capable of taking Algebra I in middle school and students will raise to the level they're pushed to.

Look at the charter school in DC that won the math competition recently:
https://wtop.com/dc/2026/03/how-students-in-southeast-outperformed-peers-in-some-of-dcs-wealthiest-neighborhoods-on-citywide-math-test/

And it's what the main character was saying in the film Stand and Deliver, which is based on a true story.

There's nothing wrong with taking Algebra I in high school and I believe that students should be placed appropriately at their level to make sure they fully learn what's being taught.

But it seems like MCPS's solution is to try to lower the bar instead of raising the bottom to reach the bar.

At our MS you can't even get into AMP 6+ (which would get you to Algebra in 8th) unless you completed compacted math at your ES. So my 80th percentile MAP-M kid and her similarly scoring peers will all be taking Algebra 1 in 9th.

Is this common?

I wouldn't think so but it may just be in the area or groups I'm in.

I do believe that Algebra I is indeed a high school course and is why the state assessment is a high school graduation requirement. But that's like bare minimum.

The count of 2025 MCAP Algebra I test takers is below, sorted by test taker count. Keep in mind that the middle school counts, goes across all grade levels. (guess it's true for high schools) And let's assume about 30 kids per class. For high schools a good number of students might not be taking the class but need to retake the exam for whatever reason.

You do have high schools near the top of the list with around 400 students taking the test. But there are also high schools at the bottom end with less then 100 students taking the test, so maybe two or three classes? You have to factor in overall high school size too.

Which one is common is hard to say. But as you can see in the list, there are elementary school students taking Algebra I. And using the previous poster's descriptions, for me those students would be the "math-content culture, "Asian immigrant scientist parent" stereotype" And everything else shifts down at least one grade level too.

School Name--Assessment--Tested Count--Proficient Pct
Gaithersburg High--Algebra 1 --437--6.2
Thomas W. Pyle Middle--Algebra 1 --405--80.5
Montgomery Blair High--Algebra 1 --393--10.4
John F. Kennedy High--Algebra 1 --323--<= 5.0
Julius West Middle--Algebra 1 --309--64.4
Cabin John Middle--Algebra 1 --304--55.3
Seneca Valley High--Algebra 1 --302--<= 5.0
Argyle Middle--Algebra 1 --297--8.4
Tilden Middle--Algebra 1 --281--38.8
Wheaton High--Algebra 1 --279--<= 5.0
North Bethesda Middle--Algebra 1 --276--65.6
Herbert Hoover Middle--Algebra 1 --275--57.8
Takoma Park Middle--Algebra 1 --273--62.3
Robert Frost Middle School--Algebra 1 --262--67.6
White Oak Middle--Algebra 1 --259--5.4
Kingsview Middle--Algebra 1 --254--46.5
Hallie Wells Middle--Algebra 1 --249--55.8
Clarksburg High--Algebra 1 --233--5.6
Quince Orchard High--Algebra 1 --230--<= 5.0
Col. Zadok Magruder High--Algebra 1 --225--<= 5.0
Northwood High--Algebra 1 --215--<= 5.0
Richard Montgomery High--Algebra 1 --212--5.2
Eastern Middle--Algebra 1 --211--46.0
Westland Middle--Algebra 1 --199--57.3
Lakelands Park Middle--Algebra 1 --198--54.0
Albert Einstein High--Algebra 1 --196--5.1
Bethesda-Chevy Chase High--Algebra 1 --193--15.0
Walter Johnson High--Algebra 1 --190--11.6
Parkland Middle--Algebra 1 --190--26.3
Rosa M. Parks Middle--Algebra 1 --179--38.0
William H. Farquhar Middle--Algebra 1 --175--29.7
Springbrook High--Algebra 1 --174--6.9
Rocky Hill Middle--Algebra 1 --159--36.5
Earle B. Wood Middle--Algebra 1 --156--54.5
Northwest High--Algebra 1 --153--7.8
Silver Creek Middle--Algebra 1 --149--47.7
Damascus High--Algebra 1 --148--5.4
Silver Spring International Middle--Algebra 1 --145--37.2
Briggs Chaney Middle--Algebra 1 --143--22.4
Sherwood High--Algebra 1 --141--13.5
Ridgeview Middle--Algebra 1 --140--26.4
Roberto W. Clemente Middle--Algebra 1 --138--34.1
Watkins Mill High--Algebra 1 --137--<= 5.0
John T. Baker Middle School--Algebra 1 --136--34.6
A. Mario Loiederman Middle--Algebra 1 --133--15.0
Sligo Middle--Algebra 1 --119--36.1
Redland Middle--Algebra 1 --114--32.5
John Poole Middle--Algebra 1 --110--52.7
Martin Luther King Jr. Middle--Algebra 1 --109--56.9
Neelsville Middle--Algebra 1 --103--16.5
Walt Whitman High--Algebra 1 --103--16.5
Shady Grove Middle--Algebra 1 --93--16.1
Francis Scott Key Middle--Algebra 1 --89--15.7
Forest Oak Middle--Algebra 1 --88--8.0
Gaithersburg Middle--Algebra 1 --88--28.4
Newport Mill Middle--Algebra 1 --86--50.0
Odessa Shannon Middle--Algebra 1 --85--25.9
James Hubert Blake High--Algebra 1 --74--<= 5.0
Winston Churchill High--Algebra 1 --72--22.2
Thomas S. Wootton High--Algebra 1 --55--5.5
Paint Branch High--Algebra 1 --55--9.1
Poolesville High--Algebra 1 --53--20.8
Benjamin Banneker Middle--Algebra 1 --43--46.5
Montgomery Village Middle--Algebra 1 --42--<= 5.0
Rockville High--Algebra 1 --35--<= 5.0
John L Gildner Regional Inst for Children & Adol--Algebra 1 --13--<= 5.0
Ritchie Park Elementary--Algebra 1 --*--*
Cold Spring Elementary--Algebra 1 --*--*
Alternative Programs--Algebra 1 --*--*
Bells Mill Elementary--Algebra 1 --*--*

How are there high schools with less than 100 kids taking Algebra 1? Are there middle schools where they put all (or virtually all) of the kids on the advanced track (not the double-advanced track with Algebra 1 in 7th, just the single-advanced track where you do compacted 6-8 math in two years)?

Yes.
Some of those middle schools have almost the entire school taking Algebra, as the chart shows. Even kids from non-compacted Math 5 can hop up to AMP 6+ -> 7+ -> Algebra if they are doing very well.

Most people who can afford $500K+ houses can get their kids to Algebra by 8th grade

We're in a medium, but not super well off MCPS MS and when I moved in I was told that roughtly a 1/3 of kids would take Algebra in 7th grade, 1/3 in 8th grade and only the bottom 1/3 would do it in 9th grade.

My 6th grader is in a mainstream private in MoCo. She said about 1/3 of the class is in pre-algebra (on track for algebra 1 in 7th grade, 1/3 is on track for algebra 1 in 8th grade, and 1/3 on track for algebra 1 in 9th grade (absent any summer courses). I can't imagine how you have a majority of kids in compacted math in so many public schools who are truly able to handle the material and succeed long-term. (FWIW my kid's pre-algebra homework looks like what I did in 9th grade.)

Some areas have higher concentration of smarter kids who test well. Why is it hard to believe?

Well clearly they aren't testing well a few years later ..my point is that at my kid's 60k/year school with highly educated and engaged parents, the school only thinks that 1/3 of them are capable of succeeding in algebra 1 in 7th grade. There's no way a majority of kids at most public schools (even high SES ones) have the ability to succeed on that path long-term. I agree the path should exist but that the entry requirements should be higher. You're not doing kids any favors by putting them in a math level that they can't actually handle.

Did they track in elementary, or not until middle?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So admittedly I am far removed from my own high school experience and my kids are still in ES, but the MS/HS math pathways surprised me a bit- do kids no longer take geometry and trig?

Pre-calc in 9th also seems a bit crazy to me (again this is coming from someone who graduated in the 90s where "accelerated" meant pre-calc in 11th and AP Calc in 12th). But I don't understand what some of these students are meant to take in 12th if they've already had two years of calculus by then.

Acceleration looks like this:

Alg 7th
Geometry 8th
Alg2/Trig 9th
Precalc 10th
Calc 11th
MVC/Diffeq/Stats 12th

That's the route both my kids took (now in college, one about to go). The one in college is a dual math major. They easily passed all their accelerated math classes including MVC/Diffeq. MAPS scores always at highest %ile, PARCC scores always exceeding expectations, 5 on AP cal, 800 on SAT math. Kid would've been incredibly bored in ES without HGC (former name of CES) and compacted math. No, we did not ever tutor DC.

There are a lot of highly educated parents around here, so it's no surprise that there are a lot advanced learners here.

MCPS really is racing to the bottom. We had intentionally moved here for the magnets and acceleration programs. So glad to be done with MCPS before they killed every program that made it great.

On the link provided in the OP, it looks like starting in 2027-2028, there are three potential math pathways students will take (slide 14) where pre-calc may be taken anywhere from 9th-11 grade. Am I understanding this correctly? What is the difference between Math 6, Accel Math 6, and Grade 6 Pre-Alg?

I am partly asking this because we are currently overseas and I've been trying to keep track of where my kids (who currently attend an international school) will land when we return in a couple years. Which is hard when MCPS keeps making changes!

Math 6 = 6th grade math, on track to start algebra in 9th
Accel Math 6/AMP 6+ = 6th & half of 7th grade math (with the other half of 7th+8th taken in 7th grade), on track to start algebra in 8th-- for strong kids in grade-level 5th grade math or kids who did compacted 5/6 who could use a slowdown/reinforcement
Grade 6 Pre-Alg = 7th & 8th grade math (with 6th grade math completed in grade 5 as part of compacted math), on track to start algebra in 7th

Algebra in..

7th - advanced
8th - on track
9th - behind

No.

9th - on-level
8th - advanced / gifted&talented, including most of "selective college" prep.
7th - highly advanced, likely STEM-focused, "UMC" stereotype
6th - math-contest culture, "Asian immigrant scientist parent" stereotype

I don't disagree that Algebra I is a high school level course and some of it may be a result of the current curriculum.

But students taking Algebra I in high school are likely struggling students.

Just look at the MCAP Algebra I proficiency rates on mdreportcard for MCPS. Middle schools top the list.

The highest high school is Churchill, ranked at number 32 out of schools listed with Algebra I test takers, and with a proficiency of 22.2 percent. Followed by Poolesville at 20.8 percent, Whitman is two spots below that with 16.5 percent.

Students are capable of taking Algebra I in middle school and students will raise to the level they're pushed to.

Look at the charter school in DC that won the math competition recently:
https://wtop.com/dc/2026/03/how-students-in-southeast-outperformed-peers-in-some-of-dcs-wealthiest-neighborhoods-on-citywide-math-test/

And it's what the main character was saying in the film Stand and Deliver, which is based on a true story.

There's nothing wrong with taking Algebra I in high school and I believe that students should be placed appropriately at their level to make sure they fully learn what's being taught.

But it seems like MCPS's solution is to try to lower the bar instead of raising the bottom to reach the bar.

At our MS you can't even get into AMP 6+ (which would get you to Algebra in 8th) unless you completed compacted math at your ES. So my 80th percentile MAP-M kid and her similarly scoring peers will all be taking Algebra 1 in 9th.

Is this common?

I wouldn't think so but it may just be in the area or groups I'm in.

I do believe that Algebra I is indeed a high school course and is why the state assessment is a high school graduation requirement. But that's like bare minimum.

The count of 2025 MCAP Algebra I test takers is below, sorted by test taker count. Keep in mind that the middle school counts, goes across all grade levels. (guess it's true for high schools) And let's assume about 30 kids per class. For high schools a good number of students might not be taking the class but need to retake the exam for whatever reason.

You do have high schools near the top of the list with around 400 students taking the test. But there are also high schools at the bottom end with less then 100 students taking the test, so maybe two or three classes? You have to factor in overall high school size too.

Which one is common is hard to say. But as you can see in the list, there are elementary school students taking Algebra I. And using the previous poster's descriptions, for me those students would be the "math-content culture, "Asian immigrant scientist parent" stereotype" And everything else shifts down at least one grade level too.

School Name--Assessment--Tested Count--Proficient Pct
Gaithersburg High--Algebra 1 --437--6.2
Thomas W. Pyle Middle--Algebra 1 --405--80.5
Montgomery Blair High--Algebra 1 --393--10.4
John F. Kennedy High--Algebra 1 --323--<= 5.0
Julius West Middle--Algebra 1 --309--64.4
Cabin John Middle--Algebra 1 --304--55.3
Seneca Valley High--Algebra 1 --302--<= 5.0
Argyle Middle--Algebra 1 --297--8.4
Tilden Middle--Algebra 1 --281--38.8
Wheaton High--Algebra 1 --279--<= 5.0
North Bethesda Middle--Algebra 1 --276--65.6
Herbert Hoover Middle--Algebra 1 --275--57.8
Takoma Park Middle--Algebra 1 --273--62.3
Robert Frost Middle School--Algebra 1 --262--67.6
White Oak Middle--Algebra 1 --259--5.4
Kingsview Middle--Algebra 1 --254--46.5
Hallie Wells Middle--Algebra 1 --249--55.8
Clarksburg High--Algebra 1 --233--5.6
Quince Orchard High--Algebra 1 --230--<= 5.0
Col. Zadok Magruder High--Algebra 1 --225--<= 5.0
Northwood High--Algebra 1 --215--<= 5.0
Richard Montgomery High--Algebra 1 --212--5.2
Eastern Middle--Algebra 1 --211--46.0
Westland Middle--Algebra 1 --199--57.3
Lakelands Park Middle--Algebra 1 --198--54.0
Albert Einstein High--Algebra 1 --196--5.1
Bethesda-Chevy Chase High--Algebra 1 --193--15.0
Walter Johnson High--Algebra 1 --190--11.6
Parkland Middle--Algebra 1 --190--26.3
Rosa M. Parks Middle--Algebra 1 --179--38.0
William H. Farquhar Middle--Algebra 1 --175--29.7
Springbrook High--Algebra 1 --174--6.9
Rocky Hill Middle--Algebra 1 --159--36.5
Earle B. Wood Middle--Algebra 1 --156--54.5
Northwest High--Algebra 1 --153--7.8
Silver Creek Middle--Algebra 1 --149--47.7
Damascus High--Algebra 1 --148--5.4
Silver Spring International Middle--Algebra 1 --145--37.2
Briggs Chaney Middle--Algebra 1 --143--22.4
Sherwood High--Algebra 1 --141--13.5
Ridgeview Middle--Algebra 1 --140--26.4
Roberto W. Clemente Middle--Algebra 1 --138--34.1
Watkins Mill High--Algebra 1 --137--<= 5.0
John T. Baker Middle School--Algebra 1 --136--34.6
A. Mario Loiederman Middle--Algebra 1 --133--15.0
Sligo Middle--Algebra 1 --119--36.1
Redland Middle--Algebra 1 --114--32.5
John Poole Middle--Algebra 1 --110--52.7
Martin Luther King Jr. Middle--Algebra 1 --109--56.9
Neelsville Middle--Algebra 1 --103--16.5
Walt Whitman High--Algebra 1 --103--16.5
Shady Grove Middle--Algebra 1 --93--16.1
Francis Scott Key Middle--Algebra 1 --89--15.7
Forest Oak Middle--Algebra 1 --88--8.0
Gaithersburg Middle--Algebra 1 --88--28.4
Newport Mill Middle--Algebra 1 --86--50.0
Odessa Shannon Middle--Algebra 1 --85--25.9
James Hubert Blake High--Algebra 1 --74--<= 5.0
Winston Churchill High--Algebra 1 --72--22.2
Thomas S. Wootton High--Algebra 1 --55--5.5
Paint Branch High--Algebra 1 --55--9.1
Poolesville High--Algebra 1 --53--20.8
Benjamin Banneker Middle--Algebra 1 --43--46.5
Montgomery Village Middle--Algebra 1 --42--<= 5.0
Rockville High--Algebra 1 --35--<= 5.0
John L Gildner Regional Inst for Children & Adol--Algebra 1 --13--<= 5.0
Ritchie Park Elementary--Algebra 1 --*--*
Cold Spring Elementary--Algebra 1 --*--*
Alternative Programs--Algebra 1 --*--*
Bells Mill Elementary--Algebra 1 --*--*

How are there high schools with less than 100 kids taking Algebra 1? Are there middle schools where they put all (or virtually all) of the kids on the advanced track (not the double-advanced track with Algebra 1 in 7th, just the single-advanced track where you do compacted 6-8 math in two years)?

Yes.
Some of those middle schools have almost the entire school taking Algebra, as the chart shows. Even kids from non-compacted Math 5 can hop up to AMP 6+ -> 7+ -> Algebra if they are doing very well.

Most people who can afford $500K+ houses can get their kids to Algebra by 8th grade

We're in a medium, but not super well off MCPS MS and when I moved in I was told that roughtly a 1/3 of kids would take Algebra in 7th grade, 1/3 in 8th grade and only the bottom 1/3 would do it in 9th grade.

My 6th grader is in a mainstream private in MoCo. She said about 1/3 of the class is in pre-algebra (on track for algebra 1 in 7th grade, 1/3 is on track for algebra 1 in 8th grade, and 1/3 on track for algebra 1 in 9th grade (absent any summer courses). I can't imagine how you have a majority of kids in compacted math in so many public schools who are truly able to handle the material and succeed long-term. (FWIW my kid's pre-algebra homework looks like what I did in 9th grade.)

Some areas have higher concentration of smarter kids who test well. Why is it hard to believe?

Yup. Lots of kids with highly educated parents in my kids’ cluster. Half are in compacted math. I don’t hear of kids failing, presumably they would have been moved down a level if so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So admittedly I am far removed from my own high school experience and my kids are still in ES, but the MS/HS math pathways surprised me a bit- do kids no longer take geometry and trig?

Pre-calc in 9th also seems a bit crazy to me (again this is coming from someone who graduated in the 90s where "accelerated" meant pre-calc in 11th and AP Calc in 12th). But I don't understand what some of these students are meant to take in 12th if they've already had two years of calculus by then.

Acceleration looks like this:

Alg 7th
Geometry 8th
Alg2/Trig 9th
Precalc 10th
Calc 11th
MVC/Diffeq/Stats 12th

That's the route both my kids took (now in college, one about to go). The one in college is a dual math major. They easily passed all their accelerated math classes including MVC/Diffeq. MAPS scores always at highest %ile, PARCC scores always exceeding expectations, 5 on AP cal, 800 on SAT math. Kid would've been incredibly bored in ES without HGC (former name of CES) and compacted math. No, we did not ever tutor DC.

There are a lot of highly educated parents around here, so it's no surprise that there are a lot advanced learners here.

MCPS really is racing to the bottom. We had intentionally moved here for the magnets and acceleration programs. So glad to be done with MCPS before they killed every program that made it great.

On the link provided in the OP, it looks like starting in 2027-2028, there are three potential math pathways students will take (slide 14) where pre-calc may be taken anywhere from 9th-11 grade. Am I understanding this correctly? What is the difference between Math 6, Accel Math 6, and Grade 6 Pre-Alg?

I am partly asking this because we are currently overseas and I've been trying to keep track of where my kids (who currently attend an international school) will land when we return in a couple years. Which is hard when MCPS keeps making changes!

Math 6 = 6th grade math, on track to start algebra in 9th
Accel Math 6/AMP 6+ = 6th & half of 7th grade math (with the other half of 7th+8th taken in 7th grade), on track to start algebra in 8th-- for strong kids in grade-level 5th grade math or kids who did compacted 5/6 who could use a slowdown/reinforcement
Grade 6 Pre-Alg = 7th & 8th grade math (with 6th grade math completed in grade 5 as part of compacted math), on track to start algebra in 7th

Algebra in..

7th - advanced
8th - on track
9th - behind

No.

9th - on-level
8th - advanced / gifted&talented, including most of "selective college" prep.
7th - highly advanced, likely STEM-focused, "UMC" stereotype
6th - math-contest culture, "Asian immigrant scientist parent" stereotype

I don't disagree that Algebra I is a high school level course and some of it may be a result of the current curriculum.

But students taking Algebra I in high school are likely struggling students.

Just look at the MCAP Algebra I proficiency rates on mdreportcard for MCPS. Middle schools top the list.

The highest high school is Churchill, ranked at number 32 out of schools listed with Algebra I test takers, and with a proficiency of 22.2 percent. Followed by Poolesville at 20.8 percent, Whitman is two spots below that with 16.5 percent.

Students are capable of taking Algebra I in middle school and students will raise to the level they're pushed to.

Look at the charter school in DC that won the math competition recently:
https://wtop.com/dc/2026/03/how-students-in-southeast-outperformed-peers-in-some-of-dcs-wealthiest-neighborhoods-on-citywide-math-test/

And it's what the main character was saying in the film Stand and Deliver, which is based on a true story.

There's nothing wrong with taking Algebra I in high school and I believe that students should be placed appropriately at their level to make sure they fully learn what's being taught.

But it seems like MCPS's solution is to try to lower the bar instead of raising the bottom to reach the bar.

At our MS you can't even get into AMP 6+ (which would get you to Algebra in 8th) unless you completed compacted math at your ES. So my 80th percentile MAP-M kid and her similarly scoring peers will all be taking Algebra 1 in 9th.

Is this common?

I wouldn't think so but it may just be in the area or groups I'm in.

I do believe that Algebra I is indeed a high school course and is why the state assessment is a high school graduation requirement. But that's like bare minimum.

The count of 2025 MCAP Algebra I test takers is below, sorted by test taker count. Keep in mind that the middle school counts, goes across all grade levels. (guess it's true for high schools) And let's assume about 30 kids per class. For high schools a good number of students might not be taking the class but need to retake the exam for whatever reason.

You do have high schools near the top of the list with around 400 students taking the test. But there are also high schools at the bottom end with less then 100 students taking the test, so maybe two or three classes? You have to factor in overall high school size too.

Which one is common is hard to say. But as you can see in the list, there are elementary school students taking Algebra I. And using the previous poster's descriptions, for me those students would be the "math-content culture, "Asian immigrant scientist parent" stereotype" And everything else shifts down at least one grade level too.

School Name--Assessment--Tested Count--Proficient Pct
Gaithersburg High--Algebra 1 --437--6.2
Thomas W. Pyle Middle--Algebra 1 --405--80.5
Montgomery Blair High--Algebra 1 --393--10.4
John F. Kennedy High--Algebra 1 --323--<= 5.0
Julius West Middle--Algebra 1 --309--64.4
Cabin John Middle--Algebra 1 --304--55.3
Seneca Valley High--Algebra 1 --302--<= 5.0
Argyle Middle--Algebra 1 --297--8.4
Tilden Middle--Algebra 1 --281--38.8
Wheaton High--Algebra 1 --279--<= 5.0
North Bethesda Middle--Algebra 1 --276--65.6
Herbert Hoover Middle--Algebra 1 --275--57.8
Takoma Park Middle--Algebra 1 --273--62.3
Robert Frost Middle School--Algebra 1 --262--67.6
White Oak Middle--Algebra 1 --259--5.4
Kingsview Middle--Algebra 1 --254--46.5
Hallie Wells Middle--Algebra 1 --249--55.8
Clarksburg High--Algebra 1 --233--5.6
Quince Orchard High--Algebra 1 --230--<= 5.0
Col. Zadok Magruder High--Algebra 1 --225--<= 5.0
Northwood High--Algebra 1 --215--<= 5.0
Richard Montgomery High--Algebra 1 --212--5.2
Eastern Middle--Algebra 1 --211--46.0
Westland Middle--Algebra 1 --199--57.3
Lakelands Park Middle--Algebra 1 --198--54.0
Albert Einstein High--Algebra 1 --196--5.1
Bethesda-Chevy Chase High--Algebra 1 --193--15.0
Walter Johnson High--Algebra 1 --190--11.6
Parkland Middle--Algebra 1 --190--26.3
Rosa M. Parks Middle--Algebra 1 --179--38.0
William H. Farquhar Middle--Algebra 1 --175--29.7
Springbrook High--Algebra 1 --174--6.9
Rocky Hill Middle--Algebra 1 --159--36.5
Earle B. Wood Middle--Algebra 1 --156--54.5
Northwest High--Algebra 1 --153--7.8
Silver Creek Middle--Algebra 1 --149--47.7
Damascus High--Algebra 1 --148--5.4
Silver Spring International Middle--Algebra 1 --145--37.2
Briggs Chaney Middle--Algebra 1 --143--22.4
Sherwood High--Algebra 1 --141--13.5
Ridgeview Middle--Algebra 1 --140--26.4
Roberto W. Clemente Middle--Algebra 1 --138--34.1
Watkins Mill High--Algebra 1 --137--<= 5.0
John T. Baker Middle School--Algebra 1 --136--34.6
A. Mario Loiederman Middle--Algebra 1 --133--15.0
Sligo Middle--Algebra 1 --119--36.1
Redland Middle--Algebra 1 --114--32.5
John Poole Middle--Algebra 1 --110--52.7
Martin Luther King Jr. Middle--Algebra 1 --109--56.9
Neelsville Middle--Algebra 1 --103--16.5
Walt Whitman High--Algebra 1 --103--16.5
Shady Grove Middle--Algebra 1 --93--16.1
Francis Scott Key Middle--Algebra 1 --89--15.7
Forest Oak Middle--Algebra 1 --88--8.0
Gaithersburg Middle--Algebra 1 --88--28.4
Newport Mill Middle--Algebra 1 --86--50.0
Odessa Shannon Middle--Algebra 1 --85--25.9
James Hubert Blake High--Algebra 1 --74--<= 5.0
Winston Churchill High--Algebra 1 --72--22.2
Thomas S. Wootton High--Algebra 1 --55--5.5
Paint Branch High--Algebra 1 --55--9.1
Poolesville High--Algebra 1 --53--20.8
Benjamin Banneker Middle--Algebra 1 --43--46.5
Montgomery Village Middle--Algebra 1 --42--<= 5.0
Rockville High--Algebra 1 --35--<= 5.0
John L Gildner Regional Inst for Children & Adol--Algebra 1 --13--<= 5.0
Ritchie Park Elementary--Algebra 1 --*--*
Cold Spring Elementary--Algebra 1 --*--*
Alternative Programs--Algebra 1 --*--*
Bells Mill Elementary--Algebra 1 --*--*

How are there high schools with less than 100 kids taking Algebra 1? Are there middle schools where they put all (or virtually all) of the kids on the advanced track (not the double-advanced track with Algebra 1 in 7th, just the single-advanced track where you do compacted 6-8 math in two years)?

Yes.
Some of those middle schools have almost the entire school taking Algebra, as the chart shows. Even kids from non-compacted Math 5 can hop up to AMP 6+ -> 7+ -> Algebra if they are doing very well.

Most people who can afford $500K+ houses can get their kids to Algebra by 8th grade

We're in a medium, but not super well off MCPS MS and when I moved in I was told that roughtly a 1/3 of kids would take Algebra in 7th grade, 1/3 in 8th grade and only the bottom 1/3 would do it in 9th grade.

My 6th grader is in a mainstream private in MoCo. She said about 1/3 of the class is in pre-algebra (on track for algebra 1 in 7th grade, 1/3 is on track for algebra 1 in 8th grade, and 1/3 on track for algebra 1 in 9th grade (absent any summer courses). I can't imagine how you have a majority of kids in compacted math in so many public schools who are truly able to handle the material and succeed long-term. (FWIW my kid's pre-algebra homework looks like what I did in 9th grade.)

Some areas have higher concentration of smarter kids who test well. Why is it hard to believe?

Yup. Lots of kids with highly educated parents in my kids’ cluster. Half are in compacted math. I don’t hear of kids failing, presumably they would have been moved down a level if so.

No they never more kids down. Parents with means help their kids succeed or get a tutor. There is absolutely no way half the kids are any school need to take calculus in 11th grade. From what I see at my kids school, plenty of these kids then just take calculus AB then stats. For a stem major then they have to take calculus in college anyways after having a gap since they last took it. Not doing these kids any favors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So admittedly I am far removed from my own high school experience and my kids are still in ES, but the MS/HS math pathways surprised me a bit- do kids no longer take geometry and trig?

Pre-calc in 9th also seems a bit crazy to me (again this is coming from someone who graduated in the 90s where "accelerated" meant pre-calc in 11th and AP Calc in 12th). But I don't understand what some of these students are meant to take in 12th if they've already had two years of calculus by then.

Acceleration looks like this:

Alg 7th
Geometry 8th
Alg2/Trig 9th
Precalc 10th
Calc 11th
MVC/Diffeq/Stats 12th

That's the route both my kids took (now in college, one about to go). The one in college is a dual math major. They easily passed all their accelerated math classes including MVC/Diffeq. MAPS scores always at highest %ile, PARCC scores always exceeding expectations, 5 on AP cal, 800 on SAT math. Kid would've been incredibly bored in ES without HGC (former name of CES) and compacted math. No, we did not ever tutor DC.

There are a lot of highly educated parents around here, so it's no surprise that there are a lot advanced learners here.

MCPS really is racing to the bottom. We had intentionally moved here for the magnets and acceleration programs. So glad to be done with MCPS before they killed every program that made it great.

On the link provided in the OP, it looks like starting in 2027-2028, there are three potential math pathways students will take (slide 14) where pre-calc may be taken anywhere from 9th-11 grade. Am I understanding this correctly? What is the difference between Math 6, Accel Math 6, and Grade 6 Pre-Alg?

I am partly asking this because we are currently overseas and I've been trying to keep track of where my kids (who currently attend an international school) will land when we return in a couple years. Which is hard when MCPS keeps making changes!

Math 6 = 6th grade math, on track to start algebra in 9th
Accel Math 6/AMP 6+ = 6th & half of 7th grade math (with the other half of 7th+8th taken in 7th grade), on track to start algebra in 8th-- for strong kids in grade-level 5th grade math or kids who did compacted 5/6 who could use a slowdown/reinforcement
Grade 6 Pre-Alg = 7th & 8th grade math (with 6th grade math completed in grade 5 as part of compacted math), on track to start algebra in 7th

Algebra in..

7th - advanced
8th - on track
9th - behind

No.

9th - on-level
8th - advanced / gifted&talented, including most of "selective college" prep.
7th - highly advanced, likely STEM-focused, "UMC" stereotype
6th - math-contest culture, "Asian immigrant scientist parent" stereotype

I don't disagree that Algebra I is a high school level course and some of it may be a result of the current curriculum.

But students taking Algebra I in high school are likely struggling students.

Just look at the MCAP Algebra I proficiency rates on mdreportcard for MCPS. Middle schools top the list.

The highest high school is Churchill, ranked at number 32 out of schools listed with Algebra I test takers, and with a proficiency of 22.2 percent. Followed by Poolesville at 20.8 percent, Whitman is two spots below that with 16.5 percent.

Students are capable of taking Algebra I in middle school and students will raise to the level they're pushed to.

Look at the charter school in DC that won the math competition recently:
https://wtop.com/dc/2026/03/how-students-in-southeast-outperformed-peers-in-some-of-dcs-wealthiest-neighborhoods-on-citywide-math-test/

And it's what the main character was saying in the film Stand and Deliver, which is based on a true story.

There's nothing wrong with taking Algebra I in high school and I believe that students should be placed appropriately at their level to make sure they fully learn what's being taught.

But it seems like MCPS's solution is to try to lower the bar instead of raising the bottom to reach the bar.

At our MS you can't even get into AMP 6+ (which would get you to Algebra in 8th) unless you completed compacted math at your ES. So my 80th percentile MAP-M kid and her similarly scoring peers will all be taking Algebra 1 in 9th.

Is this common?

I wouldn't think so but it may just be in the area or groups I'm in.

I do believe that Algebra I is indeed a high school course and is why the state assessment is a high school graduation requirement. But that's like bare minimum.

The count of 2025 MCAP Algebra I test takers is below, sorted by test taker count. Keep in mind that the middle school counts, goes across all grade levels. (guess it's true for high schools) And let's assume about 30 kids per class. For high schools a good number of students might not be taking the class but need to retake the exam for whatever reason.

You do have high schools near the top of the list with around 400 students taking the test. But there are also high schools at the bottom end with less then 100 students taking the test, so maybe two or three classes? You have to factor in overall high school size too.

Which one is common is hard to say. But as you can see in the list, there are elementary school students taking Algebra I. And using the previous poster's descriptions, for me those students would be the "math-content culture, "Asian immigrant scientist parent" stereotype" And everything else shifts down at least one grade level too.

School Name--Assessment--Tested Count--Proficient Pct
Gaithersburg High--Algebra 1 --437--6.2
Thomas W. Pyle Middle--Algebra 1 --405--80.5
Montgomery Blair High--Algebra 1 --393--10.4
John F. Kennedy High--Algebra 1 --323--<= 5.0
Julius West Middle--Algebra 1 --309--64.4
Cabin John Middle--Algebra 1 --304--55.3
Seneca Valley High--Algebra 1 --302--<= 5.0
Argyle Middle--Algebra 1 --297--8.4
Tilden Middle--Algebra 1 --281--38.8
Wheaton High--Algebra 1 --279--<= 5.0
North Bethesda Middle--Algebra 1 --276--65.6
Herbert Hoover Middle--Algebra 1 --275--57.8
Takoma Park Middle--Algebra 1 --273--62.3
Robert Frost Middle School--Algebra 1 --262--67.6
White Oak Middle--Algebra 1 --259--5.4
Kingsview Middle--Algebra 1 --254--46.5
Hallie Wells Middle--Algebra 1 --249--55.8
Clarksburg High--Algebra 1 --233--5.6
Quince Orchard High--Algebra 1 --230--<= 5.0
Col. Zadok Magruder High--Algebra 1 --225--<= 5.0
Northwood High--Algebra 1 --215--<= 5.0
Richard Montgomery High--Algebra 1 --212--5.2
Eastern Middle--Algebra 1 --211--46.0
Westland Middle--Algebra 1 --199--57.3
Lakelands Park Middle--Algebra 1 --198--54.0
Albert Einstein High--Algebra 1 --196--5.1
Bethesda-Chevy Chase High--Algebra 1 --193--15.0
Walter Johnson High--Algebra 1 --190--11.6
Parkland Middle--Algebra 1 --190--26.3
Rosa M. Parks Middle--Algebra 1 --179--38.0
William H. Farquhar Middle--Algebra 1 --175--29.7
Springbrook High--Algebra 1 --174--6.9
Rocky Hill Middle--Algebra 1 --159--36.5
Earle B. Wood Middle--Algebra 1 --156--54.5
Northwest High--Algebra 1 --153--7.8
Silver Creek Middle--Algebra 1 --149--47.7
Damascus High--Algebra 1 --148--5.4
Silver Spring International Middle--Algebra 1 --145--37.2
Briggs Chaney Middle--Algebra 1 --143--22.4
Sherwood High--Algebra 1 --141--13.5
Ridgeview Middle--Algebra 1 --140--26.4
Roberto W. Clemente Middle--Algebra 1 --138--34.1
Watkins Mill High--Algebra 1 --137--<= 5.0
John T. Baker Middle School--Algebra 1 --136--34.6
A. Mario Loiederman Middle--Algebra 1 --133--15.0
Sligo Middle--Algebra 1 --119--36.1
Redland Middle--Algebra 1 --114--32.5
John Poole Middle--Algebra 1 --110--52.7
Martin Luther King Jr. Middle--Algebra 1 --109--56.9
Neelsville Middle--Algebra 1 --103--16.5
Walt Whitman High--Algebra 1 --103--16.5
Shady Grove Middle--Algebra 1 --93--16.1
Francis Scott Key Middle--Algebra 1 --89--15.7
Forest Oak Middle--Algebra 1 --88--8.0
Gaithersburg Middle--Algebra 1 --88--28.4
Newport Mill Middle--Algebra 1 --86--50.0
Odessa Shannon Middle--Algebra 1 --85--25.9
James Hubert Blake High--Algebra 1 --74--<= 5.0
Winston Churchill High--Algebra 1 --72--22.2
Thomas S. Wootton High--Algebra 1 --55--5.5
Paint Branch High--Algebra 1 --55--9.1
Poolesville High--Algebra 1 --53--20.8
Benjamin Banneker Middle--Algebra 1 --43--46.5
Montgomery Village Middle--Algebra 1 --42--<= 5.0
Rockville High--Algebra 1 --35--<= 5.0
John L Gildner Regional Inst for Children & Adol--Algebra 1 --13--<= 5.0
Ritchie Park Elementary--Algebra 1 --*--*
Cold Spring Elementary--Algebra 1 --*--*
Alternative Programs--Algebra 1 --*--*
Bells Mill Elementary--Algebra 1 --*--*

How are there high schools with less than 100 kids taking Algebra 1? Are there middle schools where they put all (or virtually all) of the kids on the advanced track (not the double-advanced track with Algebra 1 in 7th, just the single-advanced track where you do compacted 6-8 math in two years)?

Yes.
Some of those middle schools have almost the entire school taking Algebra, as the chart shows. Even kids from non-compacted Math 5 can hop up to AMP 6+ -> 7+ -> Algebra if they are doing very well.

Most people who can afford $500K+ houses can get their kids to Algebra by 8th grade

We're in a medium, but not super well off MCPS MS and when I moved in I was told that roughtly a 1/3 of kids would take Algebra in 7th grade, 1/3 in 8th grade and only the bottom 1/3 would do it in 9th grade.

My 6th grader is in a mainstream private in MoCo. She said about 1/3 of the class is in pre-algebra (on track for algebra 1 in 7th grade, 1/3 is on track for algebra 1 in 8th grade, and 1/3 on track for algebra 1 in 9th grade (absent any summer courses). I can't imagine how you have a majority of kids in compacted math in so many public schools who are truly able to handle the material and succeed long-term. (FWIW my kid's pre-algebra homework looks like what I did in 9th grade.)

Some areas have higher concentration of smarter kids who test well. Why is it hard to believe?

Can you tell me the neighborhoods where the smart kids who test well live? I want to move there. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does compacted math 4/5 and 5/6 actually skip content? I thought it included it all but faster?

CM covers the content by merging some elements that are covered in each grade's standard curriculum (the spiral nature of elementary curriculum, especially, sees the same concepts touched on again and again, but in greater depth/with more complexity) and by rearranging the elements of the three years in a way that facilitates both those merges and a faster pace. Concepts aren't really skipped, though more repetitive content may be.

Correct. The content is taught closer to the higher level the first time thus reducing repetition. Because of this more is able to be covered more quickly. However, if not good for all students, because some bright students, actually do need the repetition and increased depth in order to cement mastery.