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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I have to think that MCPS has conceived of a world in which not all current compacted math students are interested in taking calculus and has other options available short of dropping out of school. So, when we got the letter for DD to take compacted math, we signed her up even though she is only "very good" at math and not fantastic at it. I trust that the school will work it out if a different route is better for her in the future. [/quote]

I am in the school system and you are not correct. As things stand now and as is clearly explained in the information sheet that was given with the decision letter, the children entering compacted math are expected to take 2 AP classes to complete their math requirement in high school. That will be fine for some of the kids, but it is really hard to know that 3rd graders will be ready for that when they reach 11th grade. In addition, teachers are not allowed to hold a child back from taking the class or continuing the class progression unless the parent chooses. Similar to the way that children would move from a 9th grade English class to a 10th grade even if they fail, that is the same with math.

I encourage all parents to accept the placement if their child gets recommended but to really watch their child through elementary to make sure that the path is correct. The easiest "Exit" place is repeating 6th grade math in middle school- but again, it is a parent decision and not a school decision. Do not expect to hear from a teacher that your child should really consider that option. [/quote]

Our decision letter didn't discuss high school requirements.  It said that after 4/5 math comes 5/6 math, and then Algebra 1 would start in grade 7. The letter is totally silent on the high school requirement. It doesn't even make sense that there would be no bail out short of dropping out of school. That would be a totally absurd policy and I don't believe they are just refusing to let bright but struggling math students fail out of high school. [/quote]

Parent w/ an 11th grader in Calc here, which is the path you are on with a 7th grader in Algebra.  The "bailout" in HS is to re-take a class.  If your DC in advanced math in MS isn't doing well in MS advanced math classes like Algebra or Geometry, then they should re-take them in MS or HS.   A re-taken class with a better grade earned replaces the earlier, poorer class and will slow your DC down on the math track, but still be "on level".

Also, remember that math classes are slightly different in HS.  For example, Calculus is quite different than pre-Calc.  My DC struggled with pre-Calc due to the complicated calculations that required a lot of attention to detail (copying accurately, not messing up signs, etc.).  Calculus has been a breeze.  It is more elegant and conceptual and logical with much rules-based problem solving.  It's a better fit for DC's brain.  And, the quality of teaching varies GREATLY in HS.  Our DC has had some terrible math and science teachers.  Luckily they only last 1 semester.  When DC is struggling it has mostly been a teaching issue, and we have supplemented with private tutors.  For example, one math teacher was very nice, but clearly had a word-finding issue that was obvious to me on Back to School night, when he substituted words several times which were obviously wrong (up for down, that kind of thing).  This was really confusing to DC.  A tutor sorted it out.

The downside is that bright kids who are good at math, but really love some other subject -- like history or languages -- would be stuck taking math instead of, say, a second foreign language or more lit or history. [/quote]

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