Reply to What are the math pathways after 3rd?

Forum Index » Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS)

Reply to "What are the math pathways after 3rd?"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Here are the 3 optional generally available through 8th grade; I don’t think it has been explained well in this thread.

[b]Option 1 (regular, follows common core):[/b] 
Math 4 (4th), Math 6 (6th), Math 7 (7th), Math 8 (8th), Algebra 1 (9th).

[b]Option 2 (accelerated by 1 year):[/b]
Math 4 (4th), math 5 (5th), AMP6+ (6th), AMP 7+ (7th), Algebra 1 (8th). OR
Math 4/5 (4th), math 5/6 (5th), AMP 6+ (6th), AMP 7+ (7th), Algebra 1 (8th).

[b]Option 3 (accelerated by 2 years)[/b]
Math 4/5 (4th), math 5/6 (5th), AIM or AMP 7+ (6th), Algebra 1 (7th), Geometry (8th).

Occasionally, students will accelerate by one more year, but this really varies by school and requires a very high MAP score. It can happen, but it’s rare.[/quote]

This is a great explanation, thank you. I have a question about what happens after 8th grade. I have a 6th grader in Option 1 and an 8th grader in Option 2. I think they are both appropriately placed in terms of learning needs so am happy there but I do wonder if my younger child will be at a huge disadvantage going into 9th grade. What are the benefits of being a year ahead past middle school? Is it more beneficial for college acceptance reasons? Does it help with getting into certain HS magnet/special programs? I don't want to push my younger son ahead as I think he really does need to learn math at a slower pace than my older one.

[/quote]

The difference is that the child on the “regular” track won’t be able to take calculus in high school. The one taking Algebra in 8th will have the chance to take it senior year I know that people  in this area are quick to accelerate as much as possible, but I think it is perfectly fine to get through precalc in high school and save calc for college if it is even needed. Also if the alternative is pushing a kid to accelerate who is not ready for it, I think that is a recipe for unnecessary stress.[/quote]

Not sure what is documented but this is effectively untrue at most HS.   Most kids are accelerated on path to take Calculus in 11th grade.  The rest are taking in the 12th. That is the normal path.  There are remedial paths below that but that's the exception.

Note to OP and other parents as someone with an older child.   While it is frustrating to see your kid not being challenged in math, you need to think ahead.   Look at the many threads on here of kids struggling in pre-calc.  There are certainly some kids that can handle calculus in 11th or even earlier but this is rare.  Unless you have a real math oriented kid, pushing them too far ahead is setting up for problems later. [/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics