Math Placement Letters APS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Swanson sent this out:


At the end of the school year, we shared with families that they would receive their child’s math course recommendation in ParentVue on July 21, 2025. The APS Math Office has recently added a new accelerated math course for 6th graders titled Math 6 Advanced. This new course will teach the state standards for 6th grade and 7th grade math in one year. This course meets the learning needs of our students and the requirements of the recent state legislation, which requires schools to place students who pass the state SOL exam in the upper quartile in an advanced math class the following school year. (The upper quartile for incoming 6th graders is a score of 466 or higher on the 5th grade Math SOL exam.)

Due to the addition of the new course and to ensure alignment with recent state legislation, the Math Office is updating all course recommendations for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students. We appreciate your patience while we work with the Math Office to update student schedules for the coming school year. Course recommendations will be available in ParentVue in early August.

75 percent of kids scored below 466. Wow. That surprises me.

I am surprised that fewer then 25% of the students passed advanced. I would not put a student who did not pass advance don the SOL in an intensified class.

Also do you know how few kissed pass the algebra sol advanced? I think it’s less than 10%. The percentage of kids that pass the eighth grade sol advanced is really low too— I think it’s around 10%. This is why they passed that law! Just because you didn’t pass advance doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take an intensified class.

I am curious what the breakdown is of 6h graders who take the 8th grade SOL vs 8th graders who take it. My kid took the algebra SOL this past yr as a 7th grader and scored passed advanced he said they were told the majority of their class did..so curious if the lower pass advance rate comes from kids outside the advanced math pathway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Swanson sent this out:


At the end of the school year, we shared with families that they would receive their child’s math course recommendation in ParentVue on July 21, 2025. The APS Math Office has recently added a new accelerated math course for 6th graders titled Math 6 Advanced. This new course will teach the state standards for 6th grade and 7th grade math in one year. This course meets the learning needs of our students and the requirements of the recent state legislation, which requires schools to place students who pass the state SOL exam in the upper quartile in an advanced math class the following school year. (The upper quartile for incoming 6th graders is a score of 466 or higher on the 5th grade Math SOL exam.)

Due to the addition of the new course and to ensure alignment with recent state legislation, the Math Office is updating all course recommendations for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students. We appreciate your patience while we work with the Math Office to update student schedules for the coming school year. Course recommendations will be available in ParentVue in early August.

75 percent of kids scored below 466. Wow. That surprises me.

I am surprised that fewer then 25% of the students passed advanced. I would not put a student who did not pass advance don the SOL in an intensified class.

Also do you know how few kissed pass the algebra sol advanced? I think it’s less than 10%. The percentage of kids that pass the eighth grade sol advanced is really low too— I think it’s around 10%. This is why they passed that law! Just because you didn’t pass advance doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take an intensified class.

I am curious what the breakdown is of 6h graders who take the 8th grade SOL vs 8th graders who take it. My kid took the algebra SOL this past yr as a 7th grader and scored passed advanced he said they were told the majority of their class did..so curious if the lower pass advance rate comes from kids outside the advanced math pathway.

The 7th grade pass rate is close to 100% with the vast majority of students passing advanced. No idea what is going on in Alexandria City. I pulled the FCPS, Arlington, Alexandria City, and Loudoun For Algebra 1.

Alexandria City Algebra 1 rates
7th grade 98.45% pass, 41.09 pass advanced
8th grade 59.69% pass, 3.44% advanced
9th grade 48.76% pass, 1.24% pass advanced

Arlington Algebra 1 rates
7th grade 100% pass, 53.88 pass advanced
8th grade 97.63% pass, 22.39% advanced
9th grade 87.16% pass, 3.73% pass advanced

FCPS Algebra 1 rates
7th grade 100% pass, 67.69 pass advanced
8th grade 95.14% pass, 21.55% advanced
9th grade 85.08% pass, 2.74% pass advanced

Loudoun Algebra 1 rates
7th grade 99.39% pass, 41.50 pass advanced
8th grade 95.55% pass, 14.13% advanced
9th grade 85.93% pass, 1.95% pass advanced

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Swanson sent this out:


At the end of the school year, we shared with families that they would receive their child’s math course recommendation in ParentVue on July 21, 2025. The APS Math Office has recently added a new accelerated math course for 6th graders titled Math 6 Advanced. This new course will teach the state standards for 6th grade and 7th grade math in one year. This course meets the learning needs of our students and the requirements of the recent state legislation, which requires schools to place students who pass the state SOL exam in the upper quartile in an advanced math class the following school year. (The upper quartile for incoming 6th graders is a score of 466 or higher on the 5th grade Math SOL exam.)

Due to the addition of the new course and to ensure alignment with recent state legislation, the Math Office is updating all course recommendations for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students. We appreciate your patience while we work with the Math Office to update student schedules for the coming school year. Course recommendations will be available in ParentVue in early August.

75 percent of kids scored below 466. Wow. That surprises me.

I am surprised that fewer then 25% of the students passed advanced. I would not put a student who did not pass advance don the SOL in an intensified class.

Also do you know how few kissed pass the algebra sol advanced? I think it’s less than 10%. The percentage of kids that pass the eighth grade sol advanced is really low too— I think it’s around 10%. This is why they passed that law! Just because you didn’t pass advance doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take an intensified class.

I am curious what the breakdown is of 6h graders who take the 8th grade SOL vs 8th graders who take it. My kid took the algebra SOL this past yr as a 7th grader and scored passed advanced he said they were told the majority of their class did..so curious if the lower pass advance rate comes from kids outside the advanced math pathway.

Ran it for the 8th grade SOL

Arlington Grade 8 Math SOL
Grade 6: 99.07% pass, 51.24% pass advanced, average score 498
Grade 7: 98.64% pass, 19.24% pass advanced, average score 466
Grade 8: 52.65% pass, 0.94% pass advanced, average score 390

FCPS Grade 8 Math SOL
Grade 6: No scores (6th graders in FCPS will take the 7th grade SOL)
Grade 7: 94.39% pass, 17.49% pass advanced, average score 458 (Math 7H kids take the 8th grade SOL)
Grade 8: 39.01% pass, 0.11% pass advanced, average score 375

Loudoun Grade 8 Math SOL
Grade 6: 100.00% pass, 79.79% pass advanced, average score 529
Grade 7: 92.91% pass, 9.14% pass advanced, average score 447
Grade 8: 48.75% pass, 0.37% pass advanced, average score 385

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Swanson sent this out:


At the end of the school year, we shared with families that they would receive their child’s math course recommendation in ParentVue on July 21, 2025. The APS Math Office has recently added a new accelerated math course for 6th graders titled Math 6 Advanced. This new course will teach the state standards for 6th grade and 7th grade math in one year. This course meets the learning needs of our students and the requirements of the recent state legislation, which requires schools to place students who pass the state SOL exam in the upper quartile in an advanced math class the following school year. (The upper quartile for incoming 6th graders is a score of 466 or higher on the 5th grade Math SOL exam.)

Due to the addition of the new course and to ensure alignment with recent state legislation, the Math Office is updating all course recommendations for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students. We appreciate your patience while we work with the Math Office to update student schedules for the coming school year. Course recommendations will be available in ParentVue in early August.

75 percent of kids scored below 466. Wow. That surprises me.

This year was a new set of math standards on the SOL. As a 5th grade teacher I was surprised by more of my students scores (lower than expected) than usual. I still had the expected students passing overall though. Especially compared to their MAP percentiles. I feel like they will grow next year as a result of having more years of instruction using the new standards.

Was the new set of standards for every grade or just 5th? Asking as a parent of a rising 5th grader and just trying to educate myself about what to expect this year and middle school.

All grades. I think the 2nd year of the standards but the first year of testing on the new standards so first year of implementation, though we did a crosswalk year the year before to try and bridge them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Swanson sent this out:


At the end of the school year, we shared with families that they would receive their child’s math course recommendation in ParentVue on July 21, 2025. The APS Math Office has recently added a new accelerated math course for 6th graders titled Math 6 Advanced. This new course will teach the state standards for 6th grade and 7th grade math in one year. This course meets the learning needs of our students and the requirements of the recent state legislation, which requires schools to place students who pass the state SOL exam in the upper quartile in an advanced math class the following school year. (The upper quartile for incoming 6th graders is a score of 466 or higher on the 5th grade Math SOL exam.)

Due to the addition of the new course and to ensure alignment with recent state legislation, the Math Office is updating all course recommendations for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students. We appreciate your patience while we work with the Math Office to update student schedules for the coming school year. Course recommendations will be available in ParentVue in early August.

75 percent of kids scored below 466. Wow. That surprises me.

I am surprised that fewer then 25% of the students passed advanced. I would not put a student who did not pass advance don the SOL in an intensified class.

Also do you know how few kissed pass the algebra sol advanced? I think it’s less than 10%. The percentage of kids that pass the eighth grade sol advanced is really low too— I think it’s around 10%. This is why they passed that law! Just because you didn’t pass advance doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take an intensified class.

I am curious what the breakdown is of 6h graders who take the 8th grade SOL vs 8th graders who take it. My kid took the algebra SOL this past yr as a 7th grader and scored passed advanced he said they were told the majority of their class did..so curious if the lower pass advance rate comes from kids outside the advanced math pathway.

Ran it for the 8th grade SOL

Arlington Grade 8 Math SOL
Grade 6: 99.07% pass, 51.24% pass advanced, average score 498
Grade 7: 98.64% pass, 19.24% pass advanced, average score 466
Grade 8: 52.65% pass, 0.94% pass advanced, average score 390

FCPS Grade 8 Math SOL
Grade 6: No scores (6th graders in FCPS will take the 7th grade SOL)
Grade 7: 94.39% pass, 17.49% pass advanced, average score 458 (Math 7H kids take the 8th grade SOL)
Grade 8: 39.01% pass, 0.11% pass advanced, average score 375

Loudoun Grade 8 Math SOL
Grade 6: 100.00% pass, 79.79% pass advanced, average score 529
Grade 7: 92.91% pass, 9.14% pass advanced, average score 447
Grade 8: 48.75% pass, 0.37% pass advanced, average score 385

Wow, those are pretty shocking once you get to 8th grade

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is ridiculous they would be populating the course request page we can all see and not providing any information. Clown time.

Last year letters were posted on 7/12, so they are late this year. I'm guessing they have more to sort out with the new law.

The law passed in March why are they figuring it out now.

Welcome to APS. Are you new here?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is ridiculous they would be populating the course request page we can all see and not providing any information. Clown time.

Last year letters were posted on 7/12, so they are late this year. I'm guessing they have more to sort out with the new law.

The law passed in March why are they figuring it out now.

Well, keep this in mind the next time people lobby to cut all the "bloat" in central office. Who do you think does this type of stuff?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Swanson sent this out:


At the end of the school year, we shared with families that they would receive their child’s math course recommendation in ParentVue on July 21, 2025. The APS Math Office has recently added a new accelerated math course for 6th graders titled Math 6 Advanced. This new course will teach the state standards for 6th grade and 7th grade math in one year. This course meets the learning needs of our students and the requirements of the recent state legislation, which requires schools to place students who pass the state SOL exam in the upper quartile in an advanced math class the following school year. (The upper quartile for incoming 6th graders is a score of 466 or higher on the 5th grade Math SOL exam.)

Due to the addition of the new course and to ensure alignment with recent state legislation, the Math Office is updating all course recommendations for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students. We appreciate your patience while we work with the Math Office to update student schedules for the coming school year. Course recommendations will be available in ParentVue in early August.

75 percent of kids scored below 466. Wow. That surprises me.

I am surprised that fewer then 25% of the students passed advanced. I would not put a student who did not pass advance don the SOL in an intensified class.

Also do you know how few kissed pass the algebra sol advanced? I think it’s less than 10%. The percentage of kids that pass the eighth grade sol advanced is really low too— I think it’s around 10%. This is why they passed that law! Just because you didn’t pass advance doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take an intensified class.

I am curious what the breakdown is of 6h graders who take the 8th grade SOL vs 8th graders who take it. My kid took the algebra SOL this past yr as a 7th grader and scored passed advanced he said they were told the majority of their class did..so curious if the lower pass advance rate comes from kids outside the advanced math pathway.

Ran it for the 8th grade SOL

Arlington Grade 8 Math SOL
Grade 6: 99.07% pass, 51.24% pass advanced, average score 498
Grade 7: 98.64% pass, 19.24% pass advanced, average score 466
Grade 8: 52.65% pass, 0.94% pass advanced, average score 390

FCPS Grade 8 Math SOL
Grade 6: No scores (6th graders in FCPS will take the 7th grade SOL)
Grade 7: 94.39% pass, 17.49% pass advanced, average score 458 (Math 7H kids take the 8th grade SOL)
Grade 8: 39.01% pass, 0.11% pass advanced, average score 375

Loudoun Grade 8 Math SOL
Grade 6: 100.00% pass, 79.79% pass advanced, average score 529
Grade 7: 92.91% pass, 9.14% pass advanced, average score 447
Grade 8: 48.75% pass, 0.37% pass advanced, average score 385

Wow, those are pretty shocking once you get to 8th grade

The kids taking Math 8 and not Algebra are the kids who are struggling with math, it is not surprising that they would struggle on the SOL but still it is kind of depressing that so many fail the SOL and, I would guess the class.

[Anonymous]

If 466 is the cut off for the newly created intensified class, what will the cut off be for pre algebra? That seems surprisingly low for the 75th percentile, but sounds like the test scores this year are lower (my child’s was also lower than the year prior). I’m not sure I want my kid in pre algebra — seems like there is already enough adjustment in middle school so I’m excited for this new option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If 466 is the cut off for the newly created intensified class, what will the cut off be for pre algebra? That seems surprisingly low for the 75th percentile, but sounds like the test scores this year are lower (my child’s was also lower than the year prior). I’m not sure I want my kid in pre algebra — seems like there is already enough adjustment in middle school so I’m excited for this new option.

Last year it was 550+ on the SOL and 236+ on MAP for pre-algebra.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If 466 is the cut off for the newly created intensified class, what will the cut off be for pre algebra? That seems surprisingly low for the 75th percentile, but sounds like the test scores this year are lower (my child’s was also lower than the year prior). I’m not sure I want my kid in pre algebra — seems like there is already enough adjustment in middle school so I’m excited for this new option.

my kid was on the cutoff and we sent them to math 6. They were board. Teacher was also the pre-algebra teacher so gave them higher level worksheets so it worked out great. Stress-free 6th grade and advanced content. Going into pre-algebra for 7th graders and I'm fine with it. Yes, I wish they did pre-A last year but it's nice to have them have a very successful year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If 466 is the cut off for the newly created intensified class, what will the cut off be for pre algebra? That seems surprisingly low for the 75th percentile, but sounds like the test scores this year are lower (my child’s was also lower than the year prior). I’m not sure I want my kid in pre algebra — seems like there is already enough adjustment in middle school so I’m excited for this new option.

my kid was on the cutoff and we sent them to math 6. They were board. Teacher was also the pre-algebra teacher so gave them higher level worksheets so it worked out great. Stress-free 6th grade and advanced content. Going into pre-algebra for 7th graders and I'm fine with it. Yes, I wish they did pre-A last year but it's nice to have them have a very successful year.

The in between option really is an excellent addition. The gap between pre-algebra and Math 6 was too big.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If 466 is the cut off for the newly created intensified class, what will the cut off be for pre algebra? That seems surprisingly low for the 75th percentile, but sounds like the test scores this year are lower (my child’s was also lower than the year prior). I’m not sure I want my kid in pre algebra — seems like there is already enough adjustment in middle school so I’m excited for this new option.

Last year it was 550+ on the SOL and 236+ on MAP for pre-algebra.

Good to know. Thanks. Any idea where they would place a kid who was a few points below on the SOL but a few points above on the MAP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If 466 is the cut off for the newly created intensified class, what will the cut off be for pre algebra? That seems surprisingly low for the 75th percentile, but sounds like the test scores this year are lower (my child’s was also lower than the year prior). I’m not sure I want my kid in pre algebra — seems like there is already enough adjustment in middle school so I’m excited for this new option.

Last year it was 550+ on the SOL and 236+ on MAP for pre-algebra.

Good to know. Thanks. Any idea where they would place a kid who was a few points below on the SOL but a few points above on the MAP?

Last year they wouldn't be placed automatically, but parent placement was easy to get.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If 466 is the cut off for the newly created intensified class, what will the cut off be for pre algebra? That seems surprisingly low for the 75th percentile, but sounds like the test scores this year are lower (my child’s was also lower than the year prior). I’m not sure I want my kid in pre algebra — seems like there is already enough adjustment in middle school so I’m excited for this new option.

Last year it was 550+ on the SOL and 236+ on MAP for pre-algebra.

This is so interesting to me. I wonder if there is anything wonky with the SOL tests this year because my kid is no where near 550, but over the 236 on MAP.