algebra in 6th grade?

[Anonymous]

Do all MCPS middle schools offer this? I know a parent who said they offer it at Pyle but when we went to visit Silver Creek and Silver Spring middle schools they said absolutely nothing about this. Before people flame away, this was the path I took as a kid so it seems like a normal thing to me for really accelerated/motivated math kids. For those who have done it, can you share your middle school and if it worked out ok--do they just add the 6th graders to the 7th graders who are already taking algebra? if there wasn't a decent sized cohort at your school who did this did your DC feel isolated?

[Anonymous]

We called around middle schools and asked if testing into Algebra 1 in 6th grade was possible. We then chose housing in one of schools that gave us the affirmative answer. The school administered a placement test prior to the start of the schoolyear.

[Anonymous]

Why so defensive? Lots of kids could probably handle algebra in 6th, and plenty do. Magnet kids in particular. No school will refuse administering a test, and yes, your child will be placed with kids a year older (which for math, really isn't a big deal). Just consider that in 8th grade he will then need to be bussed to the high school, and he will perhaps run out of interesting math classes in 10 -12th. MCPS requires a math class every year. There are options to take math classes at Montgomery College as well, when you're in high school.

[Anonymous]

We were told by our MS that 6th graders can not skip IM by testing, although 7th graders can. So if you are already in MoCo and your 5th grader is not currently in IM, they will not be taking algebra in 6th. If you move in from out of district, you might be able to get your 6th grader into algebra by showing that their 5th grade math class was equivalent to IM, but you also might not. You might want to talk to the math department chair rather than the counseling department, since the counselors aren't really able to determine equivalence of classes from different districts.

Take with a grain of salt, as different schools seem to have wildly different rules for course placement. I don't think there's a MoCo-wide rule.

If your 6th grader does end up in Algebra, they could be in with 7th and 8th graders.

[Anonymous]

Are you moving within MCPS or are you moving from outside?

[Anonymous]

If you have a current 5th grader, then you are entering at an interesting time. For a few years, there was no real path to get kids to Algebra by 6th. The most advanced track put them in Algebra in 7th (which is still a year ahead of the 'advanced' track in many other parts of the country).

Starting last year, they appear to have very low key reintroduced a pathway in which a very small number of kids do Math 5/6 in 4th grade, then IM in 5th grade, and then Algebra in 6th.

I cannot stress enough how limited this pathway seems to be, but even if your child is on the regular advanced pathway, they will take AP Calculus their Junior year, which is more than fast enough for the vast majority of kids.

[Anonymous]

What is IM?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is IM?

Investigations in Mathematics. It's MCPS-speak for Pre-Algebra.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you have a current 5th grader, then you are entering at an interesting time. For a few years, there was no real path to get kids to Algebra by 6th. The most advanced track put them in Algebra in 7th (which is still a year ahead of the 'advanced' track in many other parts of the country).

Starting last year, they appear to have very low key reintroduced a pathway in which a very small number of kids do Math 5/6 in 4th grade, then IM in 5th grade, and then Algebra in 6th.

I cannot stress enough how limited this pathway seems to be, but even if your child is on the regular advanced pathway, they will take AP Calculus their Junior year, which is more than fast enough for the vast majority of kids.

It's very difficult to tell which schools are offering this path. Eastern MS was mentioned in a thread. I'm sure there are others. OP, if you are coming from outside MoCo start calling MS and ask whether they plan to have any 6th graders taking algebra. My son went to school with a kid who took Geometry and Algebra II at the same time in MS (Algebra II was his elective), so you might be able to use this kind of strategy to advance them as well. Our MS was co-located with a high school so he was able to take Algebra II first period, then easily get to MS for the rest of the day.

[Anonymous]

Only students transferred to MCPS or homeschooled get a chance to take Algebra in 6th grade. 95% Takoma magnet kids rake IM in 6th grade. Unless you can demonstrate your kid has extraordinary math skill, 99% MCPS students dont get a chance to take Algebra.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Only students transferred to MCPS or homeschooled get a chance to take Algebra in 6th grade. 95% Takoma magnet kids rake IM in 6th grade. Unless you can demonstrate your kid has extraordinary math skill, 99% MCPS students dont get a chance to take Algebra.

Not true re: only homeschooled or transferred students taking algebra.. My 6th grader was placed in algebra this year along with around 20 other 6th graders. It was not requested, it just happened - the guidance counselor called on the first day of school and recommended the switch. My child has been fine in the class so far - took compacted in 4th and 5th grade. He's very good at math, but I don't think he is a math genius or anything like that. Based on my experience so far, I think it's likely that more students who are placed in AIM could actually handle algebra in 6th grade.

My child's school does not have the new AIM class as an option. I am not going to name the school here because I don't want to get the school in trouble with MCPS if they are not supposed to be allowing this (I have no idea what the official MCPS rules are on this but since most middle schools don't seem to do this, it at least seems to be an exception to the rule). It is a down country MS that is sometimes criticized on this forum for lack of academic rigor lol - not Eastern or Takoma Park.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Only students transferred to MCPS or homeschooled get a chance to take Algebra in 6th grade. 95% Takoma magnet kids rake IM in 6th grade. Unless you can demonstrate your kid has extraordinary math skill, 99% MCPS students dont get a chance to take Algebra.

As others have pointed out, there are kids in MCPS right now in 4th and 5th grades who are headed for Algebra in 6th.

You are right, though, about the 99%. I would argue that's about right, though. Algebra in 6th puts them in AP Calculus their Sophmore year, and they run out of HS math by their Senior years.

I think 1 out of 100 kids is just about the right ratio for truly gifted math kids who need that kind of enrichment. The bright kids can hit AP Calculus their Junior years and still be a year ahead of most of the country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have a current 5th grader, then you are entering at an interesting time. For a few years, there was no real path to get kids to Algebra by 6th. The most advanced track put them in Algebra in 7th (which is still a year ahead of the 'advanced' track in many other parts of the country).

Starting last year, they appear to have very low key reintroduced a pathway in which a very small number of kids do Math 5/6 in 4th grade, then IM in 5th grade, and then Algebra in 6th.

I cannot stress enough how limited this pathway seems to be, but even if your child is on the regular advanced pathway, they will take AP Calculus their Junior year, which is more than fast enough for the vast majority of kids.

It's very difficult to tell which schools are offering this path. Eastern MS was mentioned in a thread. I'm sure there are others. OP, if you are coming from outside MoCo start calling MS and ask whether they plan to have any 6th graders taking algebra. My son went to school with a kid who took Geometry and Algebra II at the same time in MS (Algebra II was his elective), so you might be able to use this kind of strategy to advance them as well. Our MS was co-located with a high school so he was able to take Algebra II first period, then easily get to MS for the rest of the day.

Cold Spring ES has had this path since last year for half of the CES kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have a current 5th grader, then you are entering at an interesting time. For a few years, there was no real path to get kids to Algebra by 6th. The most advanced track put them in Algebra in 7th (which is still a year ahead of the 'advanced' track in many other parts of the country).

Starting last year, they appear to have very low key reintroduced a pathway in which a very small number of kids do Math 5/6 in 4th grade, then IM in 5th grade, and then Algebra in 6th.

I cannot stress enough how limited this pathway seems to be, but even if your child is on the regular advanced pathway, they will take AP Calculus their Junior year, which is more than fast enough for the vast majority of kids.

It's very difficult to tell which schools are offering this path. Eastern MS was mentioned in a thread. I'm sure there are others. OP, if you are coming from outside MoCo start calling MS and ask whether they plan to have any 6th graders taking algebra. My son went to school with a kid who took Geometry and Algebra II at the same time in MS (Algebra II was his elective), so you might be able to use this kind of strategy to advance them as well. Our MS was co-located with a high school so he was able to take Algebra II first period, then easily get to MS for the rest of the day.

Cold Spring ES has had this path since last year for half of the CES kids.

How about this year's 4th graders?

[Anonymous]

Nearly all of the sixth graders taking Alg 1 at Eastern were magnet and came from HGC. There were three who were comprehensive program and just naturally gifted in math, but disinterested in the magnet at Takoma.