LCPS -- Algebra standard in 7th grade? How did that work out?

[Anonymous]

DC is in FCPS. If we stay in FCPS, she will take Math 7 honors next year as math hasn't been her strong suit despite being in Adv. Math. We didn't bother having her take the IAAT. If we move to LCPS, we understand that she would need to be in Algebra in 7th grade b/c she would have already taken the Math 7 SOL. Apparently it is the practice in LCPS to move from Math 7 (be that adv. math taken in 6th grade or on-level taken in 7th grade) to Algebra. Almost no one takes math 8 --- except those who are struggling in 7th grade (on level).

Does anyone have any experience with LCPS' algebra program in 7th grade? Seems that FCPS discourages what LCPS encourages!

[Anonymous]

I am interested to hear the answers OP. I think I replied to one of your other threads. My DD is still in elementary so I was just reporting what friends with old kids have told me.

I am not excited about the fact that pretty much any "smart" kid is encouraged to take 7th grade Algebra in LCPS. But you are right, it does seem to be what Loudoun is pushing.

[Anonymous]

PP here. Here is the MS program of studies.

http://www.lcps.org/cms/lib4/VA01000195/Centricity/Domain/123/2016-2017%20Middle%20School%20Program%20of%20Studies.pdf

If you scroll down to page 8 (the one numbered 8, which is further along than the 8th page) you will see a helpful diagram of the math options.

But if I were you, I'd call the school you are considering and ask to speak to the guidance counselor for 7th grade. Tell her your whole situation and ask what she would advise. She will be the best resource.

[Anonymous]

^^^Forgot to add that it does look like students who take accelerated Math 6/7 in 6th who do not want to take Algebra I in 7th, take Math 8 in 7th. Then take Algebra I in 8th. That may be your best bet.

[Anonymous]

Interesting I think I might understand the freakouts about Fairfax County now

7th grade algebra should be standard for advanced kids. Are there middle schools in Fairfax County that don't have this option?

and then 8th grade Geometry?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting I think I might understand the freakouts about Fairfax County now

7th grade algebra should be standard for advanced kids. Are there middle schools in Fairfax County that don't have this option?

and then 8th grade Geometry?

PP here. I don't know about Fairfax because we are in Loudoun. But I think what I determined from other threads is that in FCPS the math acceleration happens sooner, like 4/5th? Whereas in Loudoun it happens in 6th, where they basically cram 2 years of math into 1. They claim they have "math differentiation" in ES but so far for my 2nd grader I can say that is a joke. Her class has been adding/subtracting numbers to 20 ALL.DAMN.YEAR. Unless her teacher is lying to my face, no students are receiving different (harder) math work.

[Anonymous]

OP here.

It's not just LCPS that pulls kids toward Algebra in 7th. My DD's best friend in 3rd grade (FCPS) failed the SOL in 3rd grade. Friend moved to Va. Beach (military). Somehow, going into 7th next year, she is taking ALGEBRA. She moved up and has now exceeded the placement of my DD who has been in Adv. Math in 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th and has passed all SOLs so far. We are discouraged from putting our kids in Algebra -- and yet, the friend is apparently in a school district where they corrected the deficiencies of FCPS and moved her ahead of her FCPS peers.

Just wondering how/why other districts are bringing kids into algebra in 7th while FCPS thinks it is a bad move for kids even though they have passed the 7th grade SOL (which seems to be the standard that other districts are using).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting I think I might understand the freakouts about Fairfax County now

7th grade algebra should be standard for advanced kids. Are there middle schools in Fairfax County that don't have this option?

and then 8th grade Geometry?

For a while, and still in some/many schools in FCPS, Algebra is pushed in 7th. FCPS is beginning to heed the complaints of the high school teachers that students are being (needlessly) rushed and are not mastering the fundamentals, hence the newest trend not to push Algebra in 7th.

My children are younger, so it hasn't come up yet for us. But as someone who took Algebra, which is a high school class, in 8th, BC Calc in 12th, and majored in engineering, I don't see the point of pushing Algebra in 7th, beyond bragging rights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting I think I might understand the freakouts about Fairfax County now

7th grade algebra should be standard for advanced kids. Are there middle schools in Fairfax County that don't have this option?

and then 8th grade Geometry?

For a while, and still in some/many schools in FCPS, Algebra is pushed in 7th. FCPS is beginning to heed the complaints of the high school teachers that students are being (needlessly) rushed and are not mastering the fundamentals, hence the newest trend not to push Algebra in 7th.

My children are younger, so it hasn't come up yet for us. But as someone who took Algebra, which is a high school class, in 8th, BC Calc in 12th, and majored in engineering, I don't see the point of pushing Algebra in 7th, beyond bragging rights.

DH and I were the same as you and we don't get it either. I got a 720 on the Math SAT and DH got 800.

[Anonymous]

Depends on the MS in LCPS. Some offer math 8, some just algebra. If you don't pass algebra, you take it again in 8th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting I think I might understand the freakouts about Fairfax County now

7th grade algebra should be standard for advanced kids. Are there middle schools in Fairfax County that don't have this option?

and then 8th grade Geometry?

For a while, and still in some/many schools in FCPS, Algebra is pushed in 7th. FCPS is beginning to heed the complaints of the high school teachers that students are being (needlessly) rushed and are not mastering the fundamentals, hence the newest trend not to push Algebra in 7th.

My children are younger, so it hasn't come up yet for us. But as someone who took Algebra, which is a high school class, in 8th, BC Calc in 12th, and majored in engineering, I don't see the point of pushing Algebra in 7th, beyond bragging rights.

DH and I were the same as you and we don't get it either. I got a 720 on the Math SAT and DH got 800.

Ditto in our family. But in FCPS, academic bragging rights reign supreme.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting I think I might understand the freakouts about Fairfax County now

7th grade algebra should be standard for advanced kids. Are there middle schools in Fairfax County that don't have this option?

and then 8th grade Geometry?

For a while, and still in some/many schools in FCPS, Algebra is pushed in 7th. FCPS is beginning to heed the complaints of the high school teachers that students are being (needlessly) rushed and are not mastering the fundamentals, hence the newest trend not to push Algebra in 7th.

My children are younger, so it hasn't come up yet for us. But as someone who took Algebra, which is a high school class, in 8th, BC Calc in 12th, and majored in engineering, I don't see the point of pushing Algebra in 7th, beyond bragging rights.

For goodness sake, not everyone does this for bragging rights. It's called a choice. I've had 2 kids do Algebra Honors in 7th, one who did not. All 3 turned out fine and majored in engineering and nursing in college. Stop trying to make everything about parent's egos and bragging just because we live in an affluent area. Some of us are just trying to follow what's best for our kids, and don't look around to see what everyone else is doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting I think I might understand the freakouts about Fairfax County now

7th grade algebra should be standard for advanced kids. Are there middle schools in Fairfax County that don't have this option?

and then 8th grade Geometry?

For a while, and still in some/many schools in FCPS, Algebra is pushed in 7th. FCPS is beginning to heed the complaints of the high school teachers that students are being (needlessly) rushed and are not mastering the fundamentals, hence the newest trend not to push Algebra in 7th.

My children are younger, so it hasn't come up yet for us. But as someone who took Algebra, which is a high school class, in 8th, BC Calc in 12th, and majored in engineering, I don't see the point of pushing Algebra in 7th, beyond bragging rights.

DH and I were the same as you and we don't get it either. I got a 720 on the Math SAT and DH got 800.

NP here: then how about you wait until you have kids at least in middle school and have to actually make an informed decision before judging. -Signed parent with 3 FCPS kids in high school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting I think I might understand the freakouts about Fairfax County now

7th grade algebra should be standard for advanced kids. Are there middle schools in Fairfax County that don't have this option?

and then 8th grade Geometry?

For a while, and still in some/many schools in FCPS, Algebra is pushed in 7th. FCPS is beginning to heed the complaints of the high school teachers that students are being (needlessly) rushed and are not mastering the fundamentals, hence the newest trend not to push Algebra in 7th.

My children are younger, so it hasn't come up yet for us. But as someone who took Algebra, which is a high school class, in 8th, BC Calc in 12th, and majored in engineering, I don't see the point of pushing Algebra in 7th, beyond bragging rights.

DH and I were the same as you and we don't get it either. I got a 720 on the Math SAT and DH got 800.

Love how the preschoo/ES set weigh in on middle school math topics

Ditto in our family. But in FCPS, academic bragging rights reign supreme.