MCPS New Math Pathway, No AIM6 in MS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think part of the problem is that MCPS changes things from year to year. So the fact that your current 6th grader will be taking Algebra in 7th doesn’t mean next year’s 6th graders will have the same option when they are in 7th. The 6+ course is new, so probably no one knows how it will play out.

+1. I think some people here are responding based on what they know has been true for their current MS (or older) kids, while others are sharing what they are being told for next year's 6th graders.

Last year Algebra in 6th was not in the curriculum guide for our school. It was on our registration form as my child is in it now.

My child's at Eastern and Algebra wasn't on our registration form. I dunno, maybe, it was 'invitation only', but we only had one choice - AIM coming from compacted math.

Algebra in 6th is absolutely invitation only, for kids who did IM in 5th, or who came into the system from another district, or whose parents explicitly reach out and ask for them to take the entrance test.

That's fine and good, as it has implications down the road for a child's HS experience and because rushing into Algebra isn't a great idea for any but a small handful of kids.

What I'm wondering is whether some schools list Algebra in 6th on the course schedule because they have enough kids to fill at least one classroom. Other schools don't create a 6th grade algebra class - they just put those kids in with 7th graders. That would actually make sense.

It depends on the school. I don't see the need to rush Algebra but our child choose it. For the schools that do Algebra in 6th, the kids are mixed with 7th graders. It is to a separate class and works fine. Ours was not invite only. It was on the registration for and we selected it. No discussion with the school. No entrance test. Its not just the magnet schools that offer it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whatever the name, this is a really big change. I have kids in college/HS & the trajectory for many years has been for high achieving kids to have the option to take Algebra II in 9th grade. That is not even the super accelerated option. The really math-y kids sometimes take Calculus in 10th. While I think MCPS should certainly work to address the 'mile wide inch deep' problems of the past, basically offering *no* acceleration is a really strange choice. It will negatively impact students' ability to do STEM in college.

Also, I totally agree with a PP that there is basically no acceleration in MCPS except for math. So, goodbye acceleration at all! Except for the very lucky few who are in GT centers in ES & in magnets in MS/HS. Which is not all of the kids who are hungry for acceleration.

Really shortsighted of MCPS.

But I don't see anything here that rules out Algebra I in 7th, Geometry in 8th, Algebra II in 9th, etc. Same as the typical advanced pathway. Whether a student takes AIM, Math 6+, 7+, or anything else in 6th shouldn't really matter. And if a school has a small number of really advanced kids, they still have options that may not be promoted in the registration materials.

Lee is only offering Math 6 and Math 6+ (this includes kids that took compacted math). 7th grade will be Math 7 (maybe there is a plus option), and 8th grade will be algebra I. I was told they my kid could double up geometry and algebra II in 9th grade to put them back on the advanced track.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did some quick searching on DCC schools, and then added other schools I could think of. This information can't easily be found on all schools' websites. What I think is strange is how they use slightly different names for all these classes. Looks like lots of DCC schools not offering AIM.

Argyle:
Acc Math 6
Math investigations (for compacted math students)

Cabin John:
Math 6+
Applied IM

Eastern:
Math 6,
Math 6+
AIM
Algebra I

Farquhar:
MATH 6 (1005)
ACCELERATED MATH 6 PLUS COURSE (1003)

Lee:
Math 6
Math 6+

Loiderman:
Math 6+
Math 7

Newport Mill:
LearnZillion/Illustrative Mathematics 6 (1005)
Accelerated Mathematics 6 Plus Course (AMP+) (1015)

North Bethesda
Grade 6 Math
Applied Investigations in Mathematics

Parkland
Mathematics 6
IM 6/7

Silver Spring International MS
math pathways for 6th graders starting in fall '21 are:
LearnZillion Math 6-->on track for Algebra 1 in 9th
LearnZillion Math 7-->on track for Algebra 1 in 8th
Applied Investigations in Math 6 (AIM)-->on track for Algebra 1 in 7th

Silver Creek MS
Grade 6 Math
Applied Investigations in Math 6 (AIM)
Takoma Park
Grade 6 Math
Accelerated Math 6 Plus
AIM

Westland:
AIM
Accelerated Math 6 +
Math 6
Math 180

Wow, thanks for putting this together. This is an eye opener to the inequalities at MCPS. I can’t believe I actually believed that the curriculum would be the same throughout MCPS and it didn’t really matter which school we were in.

Stop hyperventilating! Both AIM and IM lead to Algebra in grade 7. So, all but four in this list have an *announced* path to get to algebra in 7th grade. The other four have an announced path to get to algebra in 8th. (BTW, Furquhar is not in DCC; So, six out of nine DCC schools have official pathway to get to algebra in 7th.) Usually these classes are based on demand, and there are always exceptions. I know kids in DCC who got accelerated outside the officially announced paths because they were above grade level.

Curriculum IS the same all over.

No one is hyperventilating, and it appears your DC is probably in the schools that do offer Algebra in 7th. While its nice to know exceptions can be made, it’s not guaranteed.

All MCPS schools offer Algebra in 7th. The question is do they offer it in 6th.

No it is not. Reread the OP's post - OP is talking about the pathway where a student (in compact 5/6 in 5th grade) gets to algebra 1 in 7th leading to Geometry in 8th and algebra 2 in 9th. According to the OP, their school told them that this path will not be available to their kid - a kid in compact 5/6 in grade 5.

Anonymous wrote:

Due to COVID and learning losses, I've been told that MCPS is focusing on remediation, and that all students (even those in currently in compacted math) will be taking Math 6 in 6th grade, Math 7 in 7th, and Algebra in 8th. (I have a compacted math kid who is going into 6th next year). Are all schools following this pathway due to Covid? We were told the kids could double up Geometry and Algebra II in 9th grade to "catch up" to the old pathway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did some quick searching on DCC schools, and then added other schools I could think of. This information can't easily be found on all schools' websites. What I think is strange is how they use slightly different names for all these classes. Looks like lots of DCC schools not offering AIM.

Argyle:
Acc Math 6
Math investigations (for compacted math students)

Cabin John:
Math 6+
Applied IM

Eastern:
Math 6,
Math 6+
AIM
Algebra I

Farquhar:
MATH 6 (1005)
ACCELERATED MATH 6 PLUS COURSE (1003)

Lee:
Math 6
Math 6+

Loiderman:
Math 6+
Math 7

Newport Mill:
LearnZillion/Illustrative Mathematics 6 (1005)
Accelerated Mathematics 6 Plus Course (AMP+) (1015)

North Bethesda
Grade 6 Math
Applied Investigations in Mathematics

Parkland
Mathematics 6
IM 6/7

Silver Spring International MS
math pathways for 6th graders starting in fall '21 are:
LearnZillion Math 6-->on track for Algebra 1 in 9th
LearnZillion Math 7-->on track for Algebra 1 in 8th
Applied Investigations in Math 6 (AIM)-->on track for Algebra 1 in 7th

Silver Creek MS
Grade 6 Math
Applied Investigations in Math 6 (AIM)
Takoma Park
Grade 6 Math
Accelerated Math 6 Plus
AIM

Westland:
AIM
Accelerated Math 6 +
Math 6
Math 180

Wow, thanks for putting this together. This is an eye opener to the inequalities at MCPS. I can’t believe I actually believed that the curriculum would be the same throughout MCPS and it didn’t really matter which school we were in.

Stop hyperventilating! Both AIM and IM lead to Algebra in grade 7. So, all but four in this list have an *announced* path to get to algebra in 7th grade. The other four have an announced path to get to algebra in 8th. (BTW, Furquhar is not in DCC; So, six out of nine DCC schools have official pathway to get to algebra in 7th.) Usually these classes are based on demand, and there are always exceptions. I know kids in DCC who got accelerated outside the officially announced paths because they were above grade level.

Curriculum IS the same all over.

No one is hyperventilating, and it appears your DC is probably in the schools that do offer Algebra in 7th. While its nice to know exceptions can be made, it’s not guaranteed.

All MCPS schools offer Algebra in 7th. The question is do they offer it in 6th.

No it is not. Reread the OP's post - OP is talking about the pathway where a student (in compact 5/6 in 5th grade) gets to algebra 1 in 7th leading to Geometry in 8th and algebra 2 in 9th. According to the OP, their school told them that this path will not be available to their kid - a kid in compact 5/6 in grade 5.

Anonymous wrote:

Due to COVID and learning losses, I've been told that MCPS is focusing on remediation, and that all students (even those in currently in compacted math) will be taking Math 6 in 6th grade, Math 7 in 7th, and Algebra in 8th. (I have a compacted math kid who is going into 6th next year). Are all schools following this pathway due to Covid? We were told the kids could double up Geometry and Algebra II in 9th grade to "catch up" to the old pathway.

Every school is different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whatever the name, this is a really big change. I have kids in college/HS & the trajectory for many years has been for high achieving kids to have the option to take Algebra II in 9th grade. That is not even the super accelerated option. The really math-y kids sometimes take Calculus in 10th. While I think MCPS should certainly work to address the 'mile wide inch deep' problems of the past, basically offering *no* acceleration is a really strange choice. It will negatively impact students' ability to do STEM in college.

Also, I totally agree with a PP that there is basically no acceleration in MCPS except for math. So, goodbye acceleration at all! Except for the very lucky few who are in GT centers in ES & in magnets in MS/HS. Which is not all of the kids who are hungry for acceleration.

Really shortsighted of MCPS.

But I don't see anything here that rules out Algebra I in 7th, Geometry in 8th, Algebra II in 9th, etc. Same as the typical advanced pathway. Whether a student takes AIM, Math 6+, 7+, or anything else in 6th shouldn't really matter. And if a school has a small number of really advanced kids, they still have options that may not be promoted in the registration materials.

Lee is only offering Math 6 and Math 6+ (this includes kids that took compacted math). 7th grade will be Math 7 (maybe there is a plus option), and 8th grade will be algebra I. I was told they my kid could double up geometry and algebra II in 9th grade to put them back on the advanced track.

You could also do summer school. That does not sound right.

[Anonymous]

Would this qualify you for a COSA under the new rules?

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/946718.page

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whatever the name, this is a really big change. I have kids in college/HS & the trajectory for many years has been for high achieving kids to have the option to take Algebra II in 9th grade. That is not even the super accelerated option. The really math-y kids sometimes take Calculus in 10th. While I think MCPS should certainly work to address the 'mile wide inch deep' problems of the past, basically offering *no* acceleration is a really strange choice. It will negatively impact students' ability to do STEM in college.

Also, I totally agree with a PP that there is basically no acceleration in MCPS except for math. So, goodbye acceleration at all! Except for the very lucky few who are in GT centers in ES & in magnets in MS/HS. Which is not all of the kids who are hungry for acceleration.

Really shortsighted of MCPS.

But I don't see anything here that rules out Algebra I in 7th, Geometry in 8th, Algebra II in 9th, etc. Same as the typical advanced pathway. Whether a student takes AIM, Math 6+, 7+, or anything else in 6th shouldn't really matter. And if a school has a small number of really advanced kids, they still have options that may not be promoted in the registration materials.

Lee is only offering Math 6 and Math 6+ (this includes kids that took compacted math). 7th grade will be Math 7 (maybe there is a plus option), and 8th grade will be algebra I. I was told they my kid could double up geometry and algebra II in 9th grade to put them back on the advanced track.

It appears Lee may be an exception. For example, some other DCC schools like newport mill and loiderman offer the new LZ math 7 (seems like the equivalent to IM/AIM) to sixth graders who were in compact 5/6 in fifth grade: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1joqZamZK-0_AAR_uzbS2OrN-BWMB9fd4/view https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EZdhK5dgt-bUhtD2LkV0nEsEYCSLCskJ/edit This seems to lead to algebra 1 in seventh grade.

Point this out and escalate if necessary to the principal or even AEI.

[Anonymous]

Clemente has also stated that they will not allow the compacted 5/6 students to take algebra in 7th and require them to take it in 8th (with an option to double up on Geometry and Algebra 2 in high school). This is not okay!

I asked my DD’s math teacher about it and she had no idea. There better be county wide guidance on this soon! How can kids that are going well in compacted get punished and forced to repeat a whole grade level???

[Anonymous]

for what its worth, the tracks are displayed at:

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedfiles/curriculum/math/mathematics-program.pdf on page 7

[Anonymous]

How is learn zillion as a curriculum? Eureka seems a huge improvement over 2.0.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:for what its worth, the tracks are displayed at:

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedfiles/curriculum/math/mathematics-program.pdf on page 7

But that's from 2013. It's based on Curriculum 2.0. It doesn't explain how or if the tracks will change with Eureka.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think part of the problem is that MCPS changes things from year to year. So the fact that your current 6th grader will be taking Algebra in 7th doesn’t mean next year’s 6th graders will have the same option when they are in 7th. The 6+ course is new, so probably no one knows how it will play out.

+1. I think some people here are responding based on what they know has been true for their current MS (or older) kids, while others are sharing what they are being told for next year's 6th graders.

Last year Algebra in 6th was not in the curriculum guide for our school. It was on our registration form as my child is in it now.

My child's at Eastern and Algebra wasn't on our registration form. I dunno, maybe, it was 'invitation only', but we only had one choice - AIM coming from compacted math.

Algebra in 6th is absolutely invitation only, for kids who did IM in 5th, or who came into the system from another district, or whose parents explicitly reach out and ask for them to take the entrance test.

That's fine and good, as it has implications down the road for a child's HS experience and because rushing into Algebra isn't a great idea for any but a small handful of kids.

What I'm wondering is whether some schools list Algebra in 6th on the course schedule because they have enough kids to fill at least one classroom. Other schools don't create a 6th grade algebra class - they just put those kids in with 7th graders. That would actually make sense.

What ES offer IM in 5th? I have only heard of compacted math offerings

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think part of the problem is that MCPS changes things from year to year. So the fact that your current 6th grader will be taking Algebra in 7th doesn’t mean next year’s 6th graders will have the same option when they are in 7th. The 6+ course is new, so probably no one knows how it will play out.

+1. I think some people here are responding based on what they know has been true for their current MS (or older) kids, while others are sharing what they are being told for next year's 6th graders.

Last year Algebra in 6th was not in the curriculum guide for our school. It was on our registration form as my child is in it now.

My child's at Eastern and Algebra wasn't on our registration form. I dunno, maybe, it was 'invitation only', but we only had one choice - AIM coming from compacted math.

Algebra in 6th is absolutely invitation only, for kids who did IM in 5th, or who came into the system from another district, or whose parents explicitly reach out and ask for them to take the entrance test.

That's fine and good, as it has implications down the road for a child's HS experience and because rushing into Algebra isn't a great idea for any but a small handful of kids.

What I'm wondering is whether some schools list Algebra in 6th on the course schedule because they have enough kids to fill at least one classroom. Other schools don't create a 6th grade algebra class - they just put those kids in with 7th graders. That would actually make sense.

What ES offer IM in 5th? I have only heard of compacted math offerings

In general, those kids (and we're talking about maybe 1 or 2 per school in most cases) take IM at the local middle school. There was a rumor that Cold Spring was offering a whole class of IM at the CES, but I only heard that on DCUM and it might have just been someone stirring the pot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would this qualify you for a COSA under the new rules?

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/946718.page

Maybe, but forcing (likely) poor/working class kids to attend a different school just to get the same math classes that are offered as a matter of rote at wealthier schools will not stand. Those kids are less likely to have transportation of their own, and more likely to have family responsibilities that make attending a different school harder.

I have to believe this is an error, and that OP was wrongly informed. If MCPS is genuinely refusing to offer acceleration to talented poor/working class kids and kids of color, they will see a lawsuit from the Black and Brown Coalition momentarily.

[Anonymous]

I thought all of this tied into the magnets. So if a school has a large cohort of GT kids at the home school, the school has to offer the advanced classes. If the school doesn’t have the cohort, the student has a better shot of getting into the magnets.

Now I think they should offer the advanced classes at every school - even if it means only two students are in the class - but that’s just me.

DS was in accelerated math beginning in first grade in MCPS and now is straight A engineering student in college. He did Algebra in 7th only because we thought 6th was too young. So yes, acceleration and excellent teaching matters. His math skills are crazy and we have MCPS to thank for that. Why they want to roll back accelerated math, I do not know.