Williamsburg Middle School Math - what scores for 6th grade pre-algebra?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The MI benchmark was 1140 a few years ago. I looked up the email. Why is it so much lower now?

Was that the 3.1 or an earlier MI?

I’m pretty sure it’s the same scale… it used to be 1030, then was raised to 1139, I think, then maybe they went back to using 1030? I think they raised it in an effort to let very few kids take algebra in 7th… for example, fewer than 5 kids at my kid’s school initially qualified that year. Why they want to reduce the numbers, I’m not sure.

What year was the benchmark raised to 1139? VMPI surfaced in 2020-21 and prompted discussions about making classes more heterogenous.

When my current 8th grader was in 6th grade, APS said they needed an 1139 in 6th to take algebra in 7th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCPS and LCPS use SOL and Iowa data for accelerated math consideration and families know the threshold needed ahead of time. Transparency is good.

IOWA scores are worthless. They aren’t accurate at all. Why does FCPS use them?

FCPS and LCPS have used Iowa for a while so they must find it useful. What don't you like about it?

I think LCPS has only used IAAT for one year.

Scanning the FCPS forum, there are references to LCPS IAAT in at least 2013, 2014, & 2016. (The "VA PS other than FCPS" forum is relatively new, so search FCPS.)

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/30/151626.page;jsessionid=BC209E1937873F0A45D5E529CE193BB3.dcum2#3314984
2013 "Yes, in Loudoun the IAAT is taken in 5th, not 6th as in FCPS. So the bar is a little lower. It is for placement in an accelerated 6/7 math, with Algebra I in 7th grade. Only a raw score is given."

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/60/151626.page;jsessionid=D837B637A4ED2A585A44E58D3EE4DB05.dcum2#4875846
2014 "I have a 5th grader in LCPS. We just got the IAAT raw score. Does anyone know where I can find how to convert to percentile?"

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/585877.page;jsessionid=3E153263910C3A2DCDC4AB020CD62AA8.dcum2#9616622
2016 "Hi My son is in 5th grade in Loudoun school dist. I heard that there is an IOWA test sometime in DEC/Jan."

Interesting. At some point they dropped it and used a mock SOL instead. There was not one in 2020-2021, 2019-2020, and in 2021-2022 and now it is just for students who do poorly on the primary SOL test and appeal. This might be why a friend said they used to require a 95 and they later dropped it to 82.

Were there issues with test administration during covid? Other DCUM posters have a different take on IAAT, saying mock SOL is preliminary screener and if score is high enough, kids qualify to take IAAT as second test.

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1060025.page;jsessionid=4196DAC9C17806F2D9BB6A4F1A2B10C7.dcum2#22729586
2022 Anyone who gets 90% on that prealgebra test(mock SOL 7) is given the option of taking a test to get into Algebra, IAAT

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/90/151626.page;jsessionid=D88FAC9D1142D99359B6485B06168D0D.dcum1#23095202
2022 Students do not take IAAT in 5th grade. They take SOL 7, and 82% will make students eligible for prealgebra. This can be appealed.
Students who get at least 90% or request to GTE can take IAAT for placement in algebra 1 in 6th grade.

The 2019-2020 testing was in February before COVID.
I'm pretty sure both of the posts you linked were written by me.
Mock SOL first, then IAAT for some but not all was what happened last year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's remarkable is that FCPS was using the same tests (Iowa and SOL) and same thresholds as far back as at least 2011.

https://web.archive.org/web/20111005061634/http://www.fcps.edu:80/DIS/gt/pdfs/MSHonors_Final.pdf

2011 "Mathematics 7 Honors is open enrollment for all students; however, there are specific requirements for enrollment in Algebra I Honors in 7th grade. Enrollment in Algebra I Honors in 7th grade is based on the following criteria:

Successful completion of Compacted Mathematics 6 or a year-long accelerated mathematics program

Score at or above the 91st percentile on the Iowa Algebra Aptitude Test (IAAT)

Score a pass advanced (500 or above) on the grade 7 mathematics Standards of Learning (SOL) test"

Using a crappy test for several years is "remarkable"?

PWCS also uses Iowa: https://www.pwcs.edu/academics___programs/mathematics/MS%20Placement%20%20Requirements%20%20and%20FAQs%2002282023.pdf

FCPS, LCPS, and PWCS seem to have a more positive view on IAAT than you do. It's remarkable to hold steady amidst all the changes in math policies/initiatives in recent years. It suggests they have found levels that work and stick with them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seems like APS is lowering their standards again.

The benchmark has moved around a lot so it's more like finding an equilibrium.

[Anonymous]

1139/1140 to 900 is a pretty significant drop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1139/1140 to 900 is a pretty significant drop.

Last year - 2022 - the letter we received for our current 6th grader said 1046.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1139/1140 to 900 is a pretty significant drop.

I think the 1139 Is for 7th graders

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's remarkable is that FCPS was using the same tests (Iowa and SOL) and same thresholds as far back as at least 2011.

https://web.archive.org/web/20111005061634/http://www.fcps.edu:80/DIS/gt/pdfs/MSHonors_Final.pdf

2011 "Mathematics 7 Honors is open enrollment for all students; however, there are specific requirements for enrollment in Algebra I Honors in 7th grade. Enrollment in Algebra I Honors in 7th grade is based on the following criteria:

Successful completion of Compacted Mathematics 6 or a year-long accelerated mathematics program

Score at or above the 91st percentile on the Iowa Algebra Aptitude Test (IAAT)

Score a pass advanced (500 or above) on the grade 7 mathematics Standards of Learning (SOL) test"

Using a crappy test for several years is "remarkable"?

PWCS also uses Iowa: https://www.pwcs.edu/academics___programs/mathematics/MS%20Placement%20%20Requirements%20%20and%20FAQs%2002282023.pdf

FCPS, LCPS, and PWCS seem to have a more positive view on IAAT than you do. It's remarkable to hold steady amidst all the changes in math policies/initiatives in recent years. It suggests they have found levels that work and stick with them.

Just because other people use it doesn't make it accurate. I *wish* my kids were a few grades ahead, but they just test well. It's an easy test to guess.

What math initiatives?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like APS is lowering their standards again.

They haven't released this year's criteria so we really don't know. They have been trending toward having fewer students take advanced math so lowering standards would be against their interests.

+1

The general trend is raising the bar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1139/1140 to 900 is a pretty significant drop.

I think the 1139 Is for 7th graders

When my current high school student was in fifth grade, the benchmark was 1140. That was for fifth graders. So, that is a very significant drop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's remarkable is that FCPS was using the same tests (Iowa and SOL) and same thresholds as far back as at least 2011.

https://web.archive.org/web/20111005061634/http://www.fcps.edu:80/DIS/gt/pdfs/MSHonors_Final.pdf

2011 "Mathematics 7 Honors is open enrollment for all students; however, there are specific requirements for enrollment in Algebra I Honors in 7th grade. Enrollment in Algebra I Honors in 7th grade is based on the following criteria:

Successful completion of Compacted Mathematics 6 or a year-long accelerated mathematics program

Score at or above the 91st percentile on the Iowa Algebra Aptitude Test (IAAT)

Score a pass advanced (500 or above) on the grade 7 mathematics Standards of Learning (SOL) test"

Using a crappy test for several years is "remarkable"?

PWCS also uses Iowa: https://www.pwcs.edu/academics___programs/mathematics/MS%20Placement%20%20Requirements%20%20and%20FAQs%2002282023.pdf

FCPS, LCPS, and PWCS seem to have a more positive view on IAAT than you do. It's remarkable to hold steady amidst all the changes in math policies/initiatives in recent years. It suggests they have found levels that work and stick with them.

Just because other people use it doesn't make it accurate. I *wish* my kids were a few grades ahead, but they just test well. It's an easy test to guess.

What math initiatives?

VMPI, more group work, push for less acceleration with extra work for good students in the same classroom, push to put more stats and graphs in the curriculum

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1139/1140 to 900 is a pretty significant drop.

I think the 1139 Is for 7th graders

When my current high school student was in fifth grade, the benchmark was 1140. That was for fifth graders. So, that is a very significant drop.

MI 3.1 was released in 2019 so the scales may have changed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's remarkable is that FCPS was using the same tests (Iowa and SOL) and same thresholds as far back as at least 2011.

https://web.archive.org/web/20111005061634/http://www.fcps.edu:80/DIS/gt/pdfs/MSHonors_Final.pdf

2011 "Mathematics 7 Honors is open enrollment for all students; however, there are specific requirements for enrollment in Algebra I Honors in 7th grade. Enrollment in Algebra I Honors in 7th grade is based on the following criteria:

Successful completion of Compacted Mathematics 6 or a year-long accelerated mathematics program

Score at or above the 91st percentile on the Iowa Algebra Aptitude Test (IAAT)

Score a pass advanced (500 or above) on the grade 7 mathematics Standards of Learning (SOL) test"

Using a crappy test for several years is "remarkable"?

PWCS also uses Iowa: https://www.pwcs.edu/academics___programs/mathematics/MS%20Placement%20%20Requirements%20%20and%20FAQs%2002282023.pdf

FCPS, LCPS, and PWCS seem to have a more positive view on IAAT than you do. It's remarkable to hold steady amidst all the changes in math policies/initiatives in recent years. It suggests they have found levels that work and stick with them.

Just because other people use it doesn't make it accurate. I *wish* my kids were a few grades ahead, but they just test well. It's an easy test to guess.

What math initiatives?

VMPI, more group work, push for less acceleration with extra work for good students in the same classroom, push to put more stats and graphs in the curriculum

VMPI never left the very early planning stages before it was stopped.

Anyway, IAAT isn't a reliable test for measuring math skills. It's good at measuring test-taking skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1139/1140 to 900 is a pretty significant drop.

I think the 1139 Is for 7th graders

When my current high school student was in fifth grade, the benchmark was 1140. That was for fifth graders. So, that is a very significant drop.

It must have gone up & down a lot then, because it was 1030 for kids a year older than my kid. That is usually considered the algebra readiness cut-off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's remarkable is that FCPS was using the same tests (Iowa and SOL) and same thresholds as far back as at least 2011.

https://web.archive.org/web/20111005061634/http://www.fcps.edu:80/DIS/gt/pdfs/MSHonors_Final.pdf

2011 "Mathematics 7 Honors is open enrollment for all students; however, there are specific requirements for enrollment in Algebra I Honors in 7th grade. Enrollment in Algebra I Honors in 7th grade is based on the following criteria:

Successful completion of Compacted Mathematics 6 or a year-long accelerated mathematics program

Score at or above the 91st percentile on the Iowa Algebra Aptitude Test (IAAT)

Score a pass advanced (500 or above) on the grade 7 mathematics Standards of Learning (SOL) test"

Using a crappy test for several years is "remarkable"?

PWCS also uses Iowa: https://www.pwcs.edu/academics___programs/mathematics/MS%20Placement%20%20Requirements%20%20and%20FAQs%2002282023.pdf

FCPS, LCPS, and PWCS seem to have a more positive view on IAAT than you do. It's remarkable to hold steady amidst all the changes in math policies/initiatives in recent years. It suggests they have found levels that work and stick with them.

Just because other people use it doesn't make it accurate. I *wish* my kids were a few grades ahead, but they just test well. It's an easy test to guess.

What math initiatives?

VMPI, more group work, push for less acceleration with extra work for good students in the same classroom, push to put more stats and graphs in the curriculum

VMPI never left the very early planning stages before it was stopped.

Anyway, IAAT isn't a reliable test for measuring math skills. It's good at measuring test-taking skills.

Some aspects of VMPI, like heterogenous classes, were under district control. Districts could continue or not with those plans as they saw fit.