Reply to Compacted math or not: implications for MS/HS?

Forum Index » Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS)

Reply to "Compacted math or not: implications for MS/HS?"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous]Definitely check that thread for more info, but for OP, here, the HS courses are changing throughout Maryland as part of an overhaul of state Math standards.  Anyone completing the pre-Algebra curriculum (through the content of Math 8, however achieved:

-- the new PreAlgebra course taking the place of whichever of AIM/AMP7+ was used for 6th-grade acceleration after Math 5/6
-- the combination of AMP6+ & AMP7+
-- Math 6, Math 7 & Math 8)

in or after the 2026-27 school year no longer will take the three-year sequence of Algebra I, Geometry (honors or standard) and Algebra II (honors or standard).

Instead, they will take a 2-year sequence of Integrated Algebra, which combines content from those three courses in a rearranged manner, with more integration across mathematical sub-subjects, and with some material removed to upper-level courses.  Instead of taking the state Algebra exam at the end of Algebra I, they will take a new test at the end of Integrated Algebra 2.

After completion of Integrated Algebra 2, there will be 4 "advanced math pathways," each geared to a different overall learning objective.

One of these, "Algebraic Foundations of Calculus," most will recognize as the academic standard, especially for those pursuing math/science/engineering: PreCalculus (which will need to fold back in some of the standards lost from remodeling the three-year current sequence into two), Calculus (AP or otherwise) and beyond (e.g., Multivariable Calc, Differential Equations, Linear Algebra), possibly AP Statistics; how far/how many of these are taken will depend on how many years of HS remain after completion of Integrated Algebra, how many Math courses a student might want to take in those years and, unfortunately, likely whether the particular school offers some of those courses, whether at the school, via dual enrollment or (maybe) via virtual cohorting.

The other three, Quantitative Reasoning, Data & Data Analytics, and Statistics & Probability, will offer less Calculus-based/focused learning to enrich mathematical understanding associated with a variety of careers that are not as heavily math/science-focused.

To the OP's questions (and to my understanding):

[quote]What are the middle school math options and how does taking compacted math affect that?[/quote]

At the moment, MCPS [i]standard[/i] offerings in MS include the three pre-Algebra paths noted above. There are a few who jump in at a higher level (e.g., straight to Algebra), but that is not considered standard and criteria are poorly defined/inconsistent across schools.  There also are support classes for those who might struggle with grade-level standards.  Your DD, if taking Math 4/5 and 5/6, likely would be recommended in 6th grade for PreAlgebra with high performance, there, or AMP 6+ or Math 7 with more modest performance.

[quote]Can you still take somewhat advanced math in middle school without having done compacted math, or is your only option to take math with the general population of on and below-grade level kids?[/quote]

If not taking "compacted" Math in ES, a student may be recommended to take the AMP6+/7+ sequence, which would offer similar acceleration as "compacted" Math (3 years of content delivered in 2).  Cohorting by (perceived) ability or actual grade in these classes, as well as the on-grade Math 6, Math 7 & Math 8, is not overly common (the logistics of period scheduling vs. other requirementa/electices can present a challenge), but may happen at some schools in some cases.

[quote]And then for high school it sounds like there might be certain programs/magnets you can only get into having taken compacted math in elementary school, is that right? If so, which ones?[/quote]

There are some selective programs where Math achievement may be used as a criterion.  SMCS, Engineering and the countywide IB come to mind.  High standardized test scores may allow someone not having taken the most accelerated standard Math pathway in MS to be offered a seat, but these are very exposure based.  MCPS doesn't want early Math acceleration to be defining of a student's later options for such programming, but the way they have it, it is a bit of a chicken-and-egg problem.  (Not sure there's a way around that.)

[quote]And if she turns out to be interested in science as she gets older, are there high school classes she won't be able to take because she's not far enough ahead in math because we didn't accelerate her now?[/quote]

There are some that have certain Math prerequisites/co-requisites.  She may have to wait until 10th grade instead of taking a course in 9th, for instance, if the condition is not yet met.  There may be knock-on scheduling effects from (e.g., difficulty getting to a particular AP without "catching up" with a summer course or doubling up on a subject in one year).  Some may see access to such courses as gravy, but a considerable population within MoCo pursues such pathways or aspires to do so.

[quote] My daughter is fairly strong but not super-advanced in math (also doesn't enjoy math much, although she does like science)-- I think she could handle compacted math, but part of me thinks it would be better to make sure she has a strong foundation rather than speed through.[/quote]

My recommendation would be to have her try Math 4/5 to see if she likes it.  This is based on her being "strong" and liking science.  If she ends up not handling the pace well after the 1st quarter (or the second, or the end of the year), she can be shifted to on-grade-level (and perhaps opt for the AMP6+/7+ track in MS, hitting Integrated Algebra 1 in 8th).  If she handles it well but still doesn't like Math by the end of Math 5/6, she can slow down in MS (again hitting Integrated Algebra 1 in 8th).  If she develops a greater interest in Math along the way, she might continue with PreAlgebra in 6th, Integrated Algebra 1 in 7th and Integrated Algebra 2 in 8th.

Of course, with the latter, she would need to take 4 more advanced courses in HS, and 3 years of college-level Math in HS is not something I would recommend to a student who isn't so interested in Math in the first place.  There will be the three non-Calculus-based advanced Math pathways, but it might be hard to convince oneself to eschew the Calc path.  Often overlooked is AP Stats, though (instead of, say, Differential Equations), and that can be hugely valuable, whether a budding scientist or other.

[quote]I have heard several times now that the decision you make for 4th grade affects you all the way through high school, which is very overwhelming as a parent of a 9 year old![/quote]

Yup.  It's not entirely definitive, given options for later acceleration/summer school/etc., but it makes certain doors easier to open. Many will tell you your DD "will be fine, whichever," and while there is a certain truth, there, don't let that deter you if you feel otherwise.  Still, the sense is that too many push for acceleration where it is not needed/warranted.  Such difficulty comes with the many options, and we should recognize that an ideal set of choices for all is pretty much an impossibility.[/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