New APS Middle School Math Pathways

[Anonymous]

So, with the elimination of Math 7 for 6th graders, the only 2 options now for the rising 6th graders are Math 6, or Pre-Algebra for 6th Graders (SOL 6-7-8), with only the latter leading into Algebra I (intensified).

Does anyone know -- approximately what percentage of kids are getting placed in Pre-Algebra? My son was recommended for Math 6. He is strong in math and was identified as GT in 5th, but I'm sure a lot of his peers were too. I know I can reach out to the county to learn more about why he was placed as he was, but I wondered if anyone here has more information about how many kids are in this new Pre-Algebra track. If it is truly only for the super-gifted math superstars, then I probably won't worry about it, but if we are talking 20-25% of the class, that is a different story and I would like to dig deeper into the recommendation.

Appreciate any insights people might have.

[Anonymous]

Don’t know the answer to your question. But I did attend the middle school math info session. They said that they expected lots of gifted students to end up in math 6 and they would cluster them together for a more in depth Math 6. In the spring they said they didn’t have much of a sense of how many kids would be ready for 6/7/8. They were gonna let the data control. I’d be curious how the numbers broke now that the recs are out. They did, FYI, strongly discourage folks from forcing kids up to 6/7/8 if they weren’t recommended. Said this class will be crazy fast paced and much more rigorous than the old Math 7 for 6.

[Anonymous]

Why would anyone here have information if it's new? Ask your child's school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, with the elimination of Math 7 for 6th graders, the only 2 options now for the rising 6th graders are Math 6, or Pre-Algebra for 6th Graders (SOL 6-7-8), with only the latter leading into Algebra I (intensified).

Does anyone know -- approximately what percentage of kids are getting placed in Pre-Algebra? My son was recommended for Math 6. He is strong in math and was identified as GT in 5th, but I'm sure a lot of his peers were too. I know I can reach out to the county to learn more about why he was placed as he was, but I wondered if anyone here has more information about how many kids are in this new Pre-Algebra track. If it is truly only for the super-gifted math superstars, then I probably won't worry about it, but if we are talking 20-25% of the class, that is a different story and I would like to dig deeper into the recommendation.

Appreciate any insights people might have.

The math pathways you are describing have been in existence for at least 4-5 years now, based on my our family's experience. My DD took Pre-Algebra for 6th Graders and just finished intensified geometry as an 8th grader. Her older brothers had more options when they were in middle school and took Math 7 for 6th graders in 6th grade, with intensified algebra in 8th.

My guess is at least 20% of her classmates were also on the math track she was on. Back in my sons' days, this track was more for the super gifted math students but no longer is this so. If you are not happy with your son's placement you can tell his middle school counselor to switch him to the other track. You, not the school, have the ultimate say. Ironically, the only one of my kids identified as GT in math was put in math 6 for 6th graders. The school was very reluctant to move him up to math 7 and we had to finally just flat out demand it. He was bored to tears for the 3 months he took math 6.

By 8th grade it's clear that some of the kids the middle schools have put on this "fast track" don't belong on it. My DD had more than half a dozen friends at Swanson and Williamsburg who had tutors this past year, some of them being tutored twice a week and barely earning a B in the class (not that a B is a bad grade but just that it took hours of tutoring every week to earn it). Although my DD's teacher was reluctant to discuss in detail, s/he disclosed that there is also much more cheating going on now with this "new track." The kids don't want to look stupid compared to their peers and perhaps parents are putting too much pressure on them since their 7th and 8th grade math classes count for high school credit.

My DD was recommended to continue on this path in HS but we've requested that she step back a little. She was upset with us for making this decision because all of her friends remain on this track but we felt like by 10th or 11th grade this math track would be too much for her when she'd start taking AP classes. She will still be able to take at least one, possibly two years of calculus in high school, if she wants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, with the elimination of Math 7 for 6th graders, the only 2 options now for the rising 6th graders are Math 6, or Pre-Algebra for 6th Graders (SOL 6-7-8), with only the latter leading into Algebra I (intensified).

Does anyone know -- approximately what percentage of kids are getting placed in Pre-Algebra? My son was recommended for Math 6. He is strong in math and was identified as GT in 5th, but I'm sure a lot of his peers were too. I know I can reach out to the county to learn more about why he was placed as he was, but I wondered if anyone here has more information about how many kids are in this new Pre-Algebra track. If it is truly only for the super-gifted math superstars, then I probably won't worry about it, but if we are talking 20-25% of the class, that is a different story and I would like to dig deeper into the recommendation.

Appreciate any insights people might have.

The math pathways you are describing have been in existence for at least 4-5 years now, based on my our family's experience. My DD took Pre-Algebra for 6th Graders and just finished intensified geometry as an 8th grader. Her older brothers had more options when they were in middle school and took Math 7 for 6th graders in 6th grade, with intensified algebra in 8th.

My guess is at least 20% of her classmates were also on the math track she was on. Back in my sons' days, this track was more for the super gifted math students but no longer is this so. If you are not happy with your son's placement you can tell his middle school counselor to switch him to the other track. You, not the school, have the ultimate say. Ironically, the only one of my kids identified as GT in math was put in math 6 for 6th graders. The school was very reluctant to move him up to math 7 and we had to finally just flat out demand it. He was bored to tears for the 3 months he took math 6.

By 8th grade it's clear that some of the kids the middle schools have put on this "fast track" don't belong on it. My DD had more than half a dozen friends at Swanson and Williamsburg who had tutors this past year, some of them being tutored twice a week and barely earning a B in the class (not that a B is a bad grade but just that it took hours of tutoring every week to earn it). Although my DD's teacher was reluctant to discuss in detail, s/he disclosed that there is also much more cheating going on now with this "new track." The kids don't want to look stupid compared to their peers and perhaps parents are putting too much pressure on them since their 7th and 8th grade math classes count for high school credit.

My DD was recommended to continue on this path in HS but we've requested that she step back a little. She was upset with us for making this decision because all of her friends remain on this track but we felt like by 10th or 11th grade this math track would be too much for her when she'd start taking AP classes. She will still be able to take at least one, possibly two years of calculus in high school, if she wants.

Me again. Just to clarify, when my DD was a 6th grader, there no longer was math 7 for 6th graders.

[Anonymous]

Our 5th grade teachers indicated that they would be recommending less than 10 kids for the new 6/7/8 class. At least one of the two math teachers also told kids she would not recommend taking that path. For reference, our grade had 2 advanced math classes, so that's probably about 50 kids. Those identified have to pass the 8th grade SOL at the end of 6th grade. My child has been identified as GT for years and wasn't recommended. As long as they do cluster the more advanced, but not super-gifted, kids, I think it will be fine.

[Anonymous]

Is HYP still an option on the slow math track?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, with the elimination of Math 7 for 6th graders, the only 2 options now for the rising 6th graders are Math 6, or Pre-Algebra for 6th Graders (SOL 6-7-8), with only the latter leading into Algebra I (intensified).

Does anyone know -- approximately what percentage of kids are getting placed in Pre-Algebra? My son was recommended for Math 6. He is strong in math and was identified as GT in 5th, but I'm sure a lot of his peers were too. I know I can reach out to the county to learn more about why he was placed as he was, but I wondered if anyone here has more information about how many kids are in this new Pre-Algebra track. If it is truly only for the super-gifted math superstars, then I probably won't worry about it, but if we are talking 20-25% of the class, that is a different story and I would like to dig deeper into the recommendation.

Appreciate any insights people might have.

The math pathways you are describing have been in existence for at least 4-5 years now, based on my our family's experience. My DD took Pre-Algebra for 6th Graders and just finished intensified geometry as an 8th grader. Her older brothers had more options when they were in middle school and took Math 7 for 6th graders in 6th grade, with intensified algebra in 8th.

My guess is at least 20% of her classmates were also on the math track she was on. Back in my sons' days, this track was more for the super gifted math students but no longer is this so. If you are not happy with your son's placement you can tell his middle school counselor to switch him to the other track. You, not the school, have the ultimate say. Ironically, the only one of my kids identified as GT in math was put in math 6 for 6th graders. The school was very reluctant to move him up to math 7 and we had to finally just flat out demand it. He was bored to tears for the 3 months he took math 6.

By 8th grade it's clear that some of the kids the middle schools have put on this "fast track" don't belong on it. My DD had more than half a dozen friends at Swanson and Williamsburg who had tutors this past year, some of them being tutored twice a week and barely earning a B in the class (not that a B is a bad grade but just that it took hours of tutoring every week to earn it). Although my DD's teacher was reluctant to discuss in detail, s/he disclosed that there is also much more cheating going on now with this "new track." The kids don't want to look stupid compared to their peers and perhaps parents are putting too much pressure on them since their 7th and 8th grade math classes count for high school credit.

My DD was recommended to continue on this path in HS but we've requested that she step back a little. She was upset with us for making this decision because all of her friends remain on this track but we felt like by 10th or 11th grade this math track would be too much for her when she'd start taking AP classes. She will still be able to take at least one, possibly two years of calculus in high school, if she wants.

Me again. Just to clarify, when my DD was a 6th grader, there no longer was math 7 for 6th graders.

This was not our experience. My kids just finished 9th and 7th and both took Math 7 for 6th graders, followed by Intensified Algebra and Intensified Geometry. This is at TJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, with the elimination of Math 7 for 6th graders, the only 2 options now for the rising 6th graders are Math 6, or Pre-Algebra for 6th Graders (SOL 6-7-8), with only the latter leading into Algebra I (intensified).

Does anyone know -- approximately what percentage of kids are getting placed in Pre-Algebra? My son was recommended for Math 6. He is strong in math and was identified as GT in 5th, but I'm sure a lot of his peers were too. I know I can reach out to the county to learn more about why he was placed as he was, but I wondered if anyone here has more information about how many kids are in this new Pre-Algebra track. If it is truly only for the super-gifted math superstars, then I probably won't worry about it, but if we are talking 20-25% of the class, that is a different story and I would like to dig deeper into the recommendation.

Appreciate any insights people might have.

The math pathways you are describing have been in existence for at least 4-5 years now, based on my our family's experience. My DD took Pre-Algebra for 6th Graders and just finished intensified geometry as an 8th grader. Her older brothers had more options when they were in middle school and took Math 7 for 6th graders in 6th grade, with intensified algebra in 8th.

My guess is at least 20% of her classmates were also on the math track she was on. Back in my sons' days, this track was more for the super gifted math students but no longer is this so. If you are not happy with your son's placement you can tell his middle school counselor to switch him to the other track. You, not the school, have the ultimate say. Ironically, the only one of my kids identified as GT in math was put in math 6 for 6th graders. The school was very reluctant to move him up to math 7 and we had to finally just flat out demand it. He was bored to tears for the 3 months he took math 6.

By 8th grade it's clear that some of the kids the middle schools have put on this "fast track" don't belong on it. My DD had more than half a dozen friends at Swanson and Williamsburg who had tutors this past year, some of them being tutored twice a week and barely earning a B in the class (not that a B is a bad grade but just that it took hours of tutoring every week to earn it). Although my DD's teacher was reluctant to discuss in detail, s/he disclosed that there is also much more cheating going on now with this "new track." The kids don't want to look stupid compared to their peers and perhaps parents are putting too much pressure on them since their 7th and 8th grade math classes count for high school credit.

My DD was recommended to continue on this path in HS but we've requested that she step back a little. She was upset with us for making this decision because all of her friends remain on this track but we felt like by 10th or 11th grade this math track would be too much for her when she'd start taking AP classes. She will still be able to take at least one, possibly two years of calculus in high school, if she wants.

Me again. Just to clarify, when my DD was a 6th grader, there no longer was math 7 for 6th graders.

I’m confused by this. My rising 8th grade son at Swanson took Math 7 for 6th graders in 2016-2017 and intensified Algebra this past school year. Math 7 for 6th graders was offered this past year there as well.

[Anonymous]

Math 7 for 6th is gone. It won't be an option for rising 6th graders.

[Anonymous]

My youngest just finished 8th grade so I'm not very tuned into possible changes. But, it wasn't any different for him than it was his older brother who was four years ahead. The question I would ask is what happens after Math 6 for those that don't take the accelerated class in the 6th grade. For both of my kids, you were either recommended for Math 7 or Math 8 (pre-Algebra) in the 7th grade followed by Intensified Algebra if you were ready in the 8th grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My youngest just finished 8th grade so I'm not very tuned into possible changes. But, it wasn't any different for him than it was his older brother who was four years ahead. The question I would ask is what happens after Math 6 for those that don't take the accelerated class in the 6th grade. For both of my kids, you were either recommended for Math 7 or Math 8 (pre-Algebra) in the 7th grade followed by Intensified Algebra if you were ready in the 8th grade.

which means they are dialing back on how many kids will be ready for algebra in 7th, geometry in 8th, etc.

hmmmm

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is HYP still an option on the slow math track?

My kid is probably going to major in studio art or dance (if he goes to college at all) but he is very strong in math and would do best in a challenging math class that doesn't repeat material he already knows or goes so slowly that he's bored to death.

[Anonymous]

To those of you whose child(ren) went from Math 7 for 6th graders to Intensified Algebra as 7th graders: did your students feel prepared for Algebra? That’s the recommendation we’re looking at now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To those of you whose child(ren) went from Math 7 for 6th graders to Intensified Algebra as 7th graders: did your students feel prepared for Algebra? That’s the recommendation we’re looking at now.

Ny son did Intensified Alg I in 7th. Int Geom in 8th, Int Alg2 in 9th and it was too hard. He moved down to regular Precalc for 10th and then back up to Calc AB in 11th....

We thought that the 9th grade class covered too much and was too hard. We certainly didn't think he entered ninth with strong enough algebra skills to handle it. YMMV.