Can a sixth grader take algebra 1?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:14:45 again.

I want to note, talking to other parents, that it does NOT appear that wealthy clusters allow students to take Algebra 1 in 6th grade more easily than others. We are in the BCC cluster, and we had to fight for it. Perhaps it's different in the WJ and WW clusters.

As some posters suggested, I believe the BCC cluster is concerned about academic pressure on students, which, if that's really their thinking, shows how ignorant they are about some children's needs. Some parents have told me their non-wealthy school cluster was delighted to welcome a 6th grader into their Algebra classes - perhaps because they don't have as many who are asking for it, and view intellectual drive as a positive thing.

BCC is a "wealthy" cluster. And, yes, down county has plenty of kids who take Algebra. Your post is pretty obnoxious to DCC students thinking our kids aren't as capable or smart as BCC.

You'll just have to stop looking for offense where none is intended. I am only relaying what other parents in those clusters have told me and don't have time to cater to feelings of insecurity. I lived for years in downtown Silver Spring before moving to Bethesda for work, and really couldn't care less if you mistakenly think I denigrate various populations. I am certainly including BCC in the wealthy clusters.

Yes, you nearly always need to ask for the class. Sometimes you need to tell them that other schools have placement tests, so they should do it too. And sometimes your kid has nearly everything right on the test, and the math coordinator finds an excuse not to let them into the class. It's USEFUL for us to compare notes, without hard feelings, because the entity we are struggling against is not you or me, it's MCPS, who thinks fit to allow regional academic supervisors to make decisions for their clusters that then create a problem of unequal access.

No, we didn't ask for the class. It was on the registration form and we just needed the 5th grade teacher to sign off on it. You are giving false advice. There was no test for testing into algebra. Its subjective depending on the school, just like most things in MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Keep in mind that everyone is required to take math all 4 years in his regardless of the level. I know families where algebra in 6th seemed like a good idea but by the time they were a junior and thinking about pursuing a journalism or another non tech major...MV Calc was not how they wanted to spend Jr or Sr year. They ended up slowing it down taking Calc ab and then calc bc and then ap stats.

This is true even for a science major. My kid was "good at math" but not a math genius, and by the end of HS (he's a rising senior) he is having to take incredibly complex math, which he isn't really that interested in or good at. It's not even especially applicable to his intended bio major. He would be better off if he were taking BC calc this year instead. I really regret the acceleration. It fed his ego at the time but it has been a PITA in late HS. It's not like you get to be done math and get to take something fun instead.

+1 It sounds great to be in advanced math in 6th grade, but even Algebra in 7th means 2 years of high school calculus ( or 1 year of calc and 1 of stats) which isn't necessary for most kids and a lot of top of all the other honors and AP classes in high school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not at my child's school. But I know Frost allows it in some cases.

Consistently high scores from K to 5th grade with all As and 288 in MAP-M - Does this allow student to take Algebra 1? What score qualifies them?

If the MAP is the same as Virginia, a 288 should be eligible for algebra; it would be one of the highest scores in the state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Keep in mind that everyone is required to take math all 4 years in his regardless of the level. I know families where algebra in 6th seemed like a good idea but by the time they were a junior and thinking about pursuing a journalism or another non tech major...MV Calc was not how they wanted to spend Jr or Sr year. They ended up slowing it down taking Calc ab and then calc bc and then ap stats.

This is true even for a science major. My kid was "good at math" but not a math genius, and by the end of HS (he's a rising senior) he is having to take incredibly complex math, which he isn't really that interested in or good at. It's not even especially applicable to his intended bio major. He would be better off if he were taking BC calc this year instead. I really regret the acceleration. It fed his ego at the time but it has been a PITA in late HS. It's not like you get to be done math and get to take something fun instead.

+1 It sounds great to be in advanced math in 6th grade, but even Algebra in 7th means 2 years of high school calculus ( or 1 year of calc and 1 of stats) which isn't necessary for most kids and a lot of top of all the other honors and AP classes in high school

There is zero reason you have to continue on that track. Our plan is to slow it down in high school or do stats senior year and focus on other interests. My child is also good at math, very good but not genius level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[

Loudoun now will not even let your brightest 6th grader take pre-algebra let alone algebra.

That has changed with elimination of VMPI. They never got rid of prealgebra, just planned to do so in the future.
This year there are at least 10 6th graders taking algebra, probably around 20-30.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not at my child's school. But I know Frost allows it in some cases.

Consistently high scores from K to 5th grade with all As and 288 in MAP-M - Does this allow student to take Algebra 1? What score qualifies them?

If the MAP is the same as Virginia, a 288 should be eligible for algebra; it would be one of the highest scores in the state.

I was told there were higher, and the school said they couldn't take algebra unless they'd completed IM, which wasn't offered at ourDCC ES.

I'm okay with it, but I felt others should know mainly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Keep in mind that everyone is required to take math all 4 years in his regardless of the level. I know families where algebra in 6th seemed like a good idea but by the time they were a junior and thinking about pursuing a journalism or another non tech major...MV Calc was not how they wanted to spend Jr or Sr year. They ended up slowing it down taking Calc ab and then calc bc and then ap stats.

This is true even for a science major. My kid was "good at math" but not a math genius, and by the end of HS (he's a rising senior) he is having to take incredibly complex math, which he isn't really that interested in or good at. It's not even especially applicable to his intended bio major. He would be better off if he were taking BC calc this year instead. I really regret the acceleration. It fed his ego at the time but it has been a PITA in late HS. It's not like you get to be done math and get to take something fun instead.

+1 It sounds great to be in advanced math in 6th grade, but even Algebra in 7th means 2 years of high school calculus ( or 1 year of calc and 1 of stats) which isn't necessary for most kids and a lot of top of all the other honors and AP classes in high school

There is zero reason you have to continue on that track. Our plan is to slow it down in high school or do stats senior year and focus on other interests. My child is also good at math, very good but not genius level.

That's not really an option for kids who take Algebra in 6th. There's no way to avoid 2 years of Calc in high school, unless you repeat Algebra II in 9th. Otherwise, the easiest path is

9th precalc
10th Calc AB
11th Calc BC
12th Stats

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Keep in mind that everyone is required to take math all 4 years in his regardless of the level. I know families where algebra in 6th seemed like a good idea but by the time they were a junior and thinking about pursuing a journalism or another non tech major...MV Calc was not how they wanted to spend Jr or Sr year. They ended up slowing it down taking Calc ab and then calc bc and then ap stats.

This is true even for a science major. My kid was "good at math" but not a math genius, and by the end of HS (he's a rising senior) he is having to take incredibly complex math, which he isn't really that interested in or good at. It's not even especially applicable to his intended bio major. He would be better off if he were taking BC calc this year instead. I really regret the acceleration. It fed his ego at the time but it has been a PITA in late HS. It's not like you get to be done math and get to take something fun instead.

+1 It sounds great to be in advanced math in 6th grade, but even Algebra in 7th means 2 years of high school calculus ( or 1 year of calc and 1 of stats) which isn't necessary for most kids and a lot of top of all the other honors and AP classes in high school

There is zero reason you have to continue on that track. Our plan is to slow it down in high school or do stats senior year and focus on other interests. My child is also good at math, very good but not genius level.

That's not really an option for kids who take Algebra in 6th. There's no way to avoid 2 years of Calc in high school, unless you repeat Algebra II in 9th. Otherwise, the easiest path is

9th precalc
10th Calc AB
11th Calc BC
12th Stats

If a 6th grader can take Algebra I without any difficulties, he/she is likely going to be able to skip Calc AB. So precal for 9th, Calc BC for 10th, and two APs for 11th and 12th. I know Blair offers AP stat, AP linear algebra and Multi-variable Calculus. Or student can go to Montgomery College.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not at my child's school. But I know Frost allows it in some cases.

Consistently high scores from K to 5th grade with all As and 288 in MAP-M - Does this allow student to take Algebra 1? What score qualifies them?

If the MAP is the same as Virginia, a 288 should be eligible for algebra; it would be one of the highest scores in the state.

I was told there were higher, and the school said they couldn't take algebra unless they'd completed IM, which wasn't offered at ourDCC ES.

I'm okay with it, but I felt others should know mainly.

Its not true as our child skipped AIM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC, arising sixth grader found out today that her classmate is registered to take Algebra 1 as a rising sixth grader. My DC and the classmate were in the same elementary school math program and class last school year (compacted math). So can my child also take algebra 1 and if so how to talk with the counselor to make the change (she is currently registered for AIM6)?

They only allow this at a few affluent schools. Usually it requires exceeding a specific mapm score. A kid with a much higher score at a different MS doesn't even have this option.

It's common in the wealthy schools where the tigers demand this. One of my children was scoring in the 290s on their map-m in the 5th and high 280s in 6th who was at a regular DCC school did not get this option.

Did you stand up and ask for opportunity for your child's bright future? I guess not. Do not expect other parents to follow your don't care attitude

No need to since my child is in the magnet where they go into greater depth. But I do find it odd that only schools in Potomac offer these advanced classes.

Algebra is offered downcountry. Not just potomac

There is literally one school that offers this to a broader group, one, in a higher income area. There are many more in the Bethesda, Chevy Chase and Potomac areas that do not allow it under almost any circumstances. There are at least three schools in the DCC I know because I live in the DCC that allow Alg. 1 on a case by case basis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC, arising sixth grader found out today that her classmate is registered to take Algebra 1 as a rising sixth grader. My DC and the classmate were in the same elementary school math program and class last school year (compacted math). So can my child also take algebra 1 and if so how to talk with the counselor to make the change (she is currently registered for AIM6)?

They only allow this at a few affluent schools. Usually it requires exceeding a specific mapm score. A kid with a much higher score at a different MS doesn't even have this option.

It's common in the wealthy schools where the tigers demand this. One of my children was scoring in the 290s on their map-m in the 5th and high 280s in 6th who was at a regular DCC school did not get this option.

Did you stand up and ask for opportunity for your child's bright future? I guess not. Do not expect other parents to follow your don't care attitude

No need to since my child is in the magnet where they go into greater depth. But I do find it odd that only schools in Potomac offer these advanced classes.

Algebra is offered downcountry. Not just potomac

True. My kid at Eastern had a handful of 6th graders in their Algebra class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:CES prepared the kids with pre-algebra. Why not give them exposure to Algebra and let them explore the world of mathematics? Why do you want to hold them back because average joes cannot catch up?

CES has absolutely NOTHING to do with math.

Kids in CES have the same math options as other kids in the same school. Most take compacted math, but not all. And lots of non-CES kids take compacted math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not at my child's school. But I know Frost allows it in some cases.

Consistently high scores from K to 5th grade with all As and 288 in MAP-M - Does this allow student to take Algebra 1? What score qualifies them?

If the MAP is the same as Virginia, a 288 should be eligible for algebra; it would be one of the highest scores in the state.

I was told there were higher, and the school said they couldn't take algebra unless they'd completed IM, which wasn't offered at ourDCC ES.

I'm okay with it, but I felt others should know mainly.

Its not true as our child skipped AIM.

At affluent schools like Frost, a MAP-M score of 250+ will enable you to skip AIM, but if you are at a DCC school even TPMS they say if you didn't take AIM in grade 5 you cannot take Algebra.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Keep in mind that everyone is required to take math all 4 years in his regardless of the level. I know families where algebra in 6th seemed like a good idea but by the time they were a junior and thinking about pursuing a journalism or another non tech major...MV Calc was not how they wanted to spend Jr or Sr year. They ended up slowing it down taking Calc ab and then calc bc and then ap stats.

This is true even for a science major. My kid was "good at math" but not a math genius, and by the end of HS (he's a rising senior) he is having to take incredibly complex math, which he isn't really that interested in or good at. It's not even especially applicable to his intended bio major. He would be better off if he were taking BC calc this year instead. I really regret the acceleration. It fed his ego at the time but it has been a PITA in late HS. It's not like you get to be done math and get to take something fun instead.

+1 It sounds great to be in advanced math in 6th grade, but even Algebra in 7th means 2 years of high school calculus ( or 1 year of calc and 1 of stats) which isn't necessary for most kids and a lot of top of all the other honors and AP classes in high school

There is zero reason you have to continue on that track. Our plan is to slow it down in high school or do stats senior year and focus on other interests. My child is also good at math, very good but not genius level.

That's not really an option for kids who take Algebra in 6th. There's no way to avoid 2 years of Calc in high school, unless you repeat Algebra II in 9th. Otherwise, the easiest path is

9th precalc
10th Calc AB
11th Calc BC
12th Stats

If a 6th grader can take Algebra I without any difficulties, he/she is likely going to be able to skip Calc AB. So precal for 9th, Calc BC for 10th, and two APs for 11th and 12th. I know Blair offers AP stat, AP linear algebra and Multi-variable Calculus. Or student can go to Montgomery College.

Right, but PP said they planned to have their child do Algebra 1 in 6th but then "slow down" in HS. That's going to have the effect of weakening the child's overall package, while creating problems where there don't need to be problems.

A child who does IM/AIM in 6th will take AP Calculus in 11th grade and (likely) AP Stats in 12th. That's a perfectly rigorous/competitive math track for 99.9% of kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CES prepared the kids with pre-algebra. Why not give them exposure to Algebra and let them explore the world of mathematics? Why do you want to hold them back because average joes cannot catch up?

CES has absolutely NOTHING to do with math.

Kids in CES have the same math options as other kids in the same school. Most take compacted math, but not all. And lots of non-CES kids take compacted math.

Clearly you do not know what you are talking about.