Algebra in sixth?

[Anonymous]

Realize that this may change in the future due to VA proposals. Currently, what makes a child eligible to take Algebra in sixth grade? Anyone whose child took this path, and now wish they had waited?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Realize that this may change in the future due to VA proposals. Currently, what makes a child eligible to take Algebra in sixth grade? Anyone whose child took this path, and now wish they had waited?

In our district (not FCPS) it's supposedly 99% percentile MAP, teacher recommendation, which leads to individual evaluation by middle school Math coach. In a typical year, they select 5-6 (out of a cohort of ca. 1000). DC (MAP > 270) is working hard in 4th/5th grade through AoPS prealgebra to be ready. Can't wait to escape the age-level classroom. Have seen other kids be successful (one even skipped Geometry). Of course, very small community. All academic parents.

Would love to hear how it works elsewhere in VA.

[Anonymous]

My FCPS child took Algebra in 5th grade. He tested in.

[Anonymous]

If 6th graders are in elementary school, how does an elementary school that has 2 kids in the category support them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If 6th graders are in elementary school, how does an elementary school that has 2 kids in the category support them?

In the US, elementary schools end with 5th grade, I thought. 6th grade is secondary school, called middle school. Are there elementary schools with 6th graders?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My FCPS child took Algebra in 5th grade. He tested in.

Describe how. IAAT? MAP? Special test? Is it routinely given to all students?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If 6th graders are in elementary school, how does an elementary school that has 2 kids in the category support them?

In the US, elementary schools end with 5th grade, I thought. 6th grade is secondary school, called middle school. Are there elementary schools with 6th graders?

ALL FCPS elementary schools go up to 6th grade.

I don't know how other schools do it, but my friend's 6th grader who is doing Algebra is doing it online. I think that option is offered in non-Covid times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Realize that this may change in the future due to VA proposals. Currently, what makes a child eligible to take Algebra in sixth grade? Anyone whose child took this path, and now wish they had waited?

I don't know if all schools do this, but my friend's elementary school places kids on the basis of their performance in the classroom. For instance, my friend's daughter has had nothing but perfect SOL scores, gets nothing wrong on any of her tests, and I think scored in the 99th percentile on her IAAT. Her sister, who is slightly less gifted than her (and older) did not score as high, and was not offered that option. I know that at the start of the year, her mom despaired about the Algebra class, not so much because her child couldn't handle the material, but because the teacher is having a hard time with kids with such a wide age ranges, and her daughter was having a hard time with the teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If 6th graders are in elementary school, how does an elementary school that has 2 kids in the category support them?

In the US, elementary schools end with 5th grade, I thought. 6th grade is secondary school, called middle school. Are there elementary schools with 6th graders?

ALL FCPS elementary schools go up to 6th grade.

I don't know how other schools do it, but my friend's 6th grader who is doing Algebra is doing it online. I think that option is offered in non-Covid times.

This is not correct.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If 6th graders are in elementary school, how does an elementary school that has 2 kids in the category support them?

In the US, elementary schools end with 5th grade, I thought. 6th grade is secondary school, called middle school. Are there elementary schools with 6th graders?

ALL FCPS elementary schools go up to 6th grade.

I don't know how other schools do it, but my friend's 6th grader who is doing Algebra is doing it online. I think that option is offered in non-Covid times.

This is not correct.

There are a few ES that end in fifth but the vast majority ES go to sixth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If 6th graders are in elementary school, how does an elementary school that has 2 kids in the category support them?

In the US, elementary schools end with 5th grade, I thought. 6th grade is secondary school, called middle school. Are there elementary schools with 6th graders?

This is the AAP forum. AAP is a program in FCPS, and in FCPS the majority of 6th graders are in elementary schools. In other districts in the area, most or all 6th graders are in Middle School.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If 6th graders are in elementary school, how does an elementary school that has 2 kids in the category support them?

In the US, elementary schools end with 5th grade, I thought. 6th grade is secondary school, called middle school. Are there elementary schools with 6th graders?

This is the AAP forum. AAP is a program in FCPS, and in FCPS the majority of 6th graders are in elementary schools. In other districts in the area, most or all 6th graders are in Middle School.

Actually, the description says "open to discussion of similar programs elsewhere." and I think Algebra promotion in 6th grade may fall under this umbrella.
Still I really appreciate the clarification and do wonder about enrollment levels in Algebra I in 6th grade under these circumstances.

[Anonymous]

In FCPS, to be eligible for Algebra before 8th grade, a kid needs to do all of: successfully complete 6th grade advanced/AAP math, get a pass advanced on the 7th grade math SOL (taken at the end of the 6th grade advanced math class), and get a 91st percentile on IAAT. These requirements are set in stone for all FCPS kids.

To do 5th or 6th grade Algebra, the kid needs to be skipped ahead in math in some grade prior to 6th grade, such that the kid is in the 6th grade AAP math class before 6th grade. The main pathway for this is to have a CogAT Q score >= 140, have high SOL scores in 3rd and 4th grade, and get the recommendation of the teachers. Then, the kids who meet these criteria are given a test, and those who pass are placed in the 6th grade AAP math class as 5th graders.

In some cases, kids are skipped ahead earlier than that or skipped ahead more grades. That's at the discretion of the principal.

[Anonymous]

This is a few years ago, but both my kids took Algebra in 6th grade. They were bused to the FCPS AAP middle school for 1st period. They weren't the only ones, maybe 4-6 other kids just from their ES as well as others from other ES.

No regrets - it was the right decision for them. Tested in (IAAT) at end of 5th grade. Finished pre-calc at end of middle school (this time we had to drive them to HS, no bus).

Both took math in HS all 4 years.

The only downside was PSAT/SAT/SAT2 - by then, they had forgotten some of the basic math that was being tested so had to hit the books a little (they just looked over old class notes - so good if you save them)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If 6th graders are in elementary school, how does an elementary school that has 2 kids in the category support them?

In the US, elementary schools end with 5th grade, I thought. 6th grade is secondary school, called middle school. Are there elementary schools with 6th graders?

This is the AAP forum. AAP is a program in FCPS, and in FCPS the majority of 6th graders are in elementary schools. In other districts in the area, most or all 6th graders are in Middle School.

No, other forums advise that this is a reference to all advanced academic programs, not just AAP in FCPS.