Reply to Middle Schools Math Differentiation

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My god.  The standards are so low for most people here.

Reality is:

8th grade math is basically below standard, “remedial” (no calculus in high school)
8th grade Algebra 1 is standard (Calculus by 12th grade)
7th grade Algebra 1 is accelerated (Calculus by 11th grade)
6th grade Algebra 1 is twice accelerated (Calculus by 10th grade)

The only schools that get kids to Calculus by 10th is Basis, Deal, Hardy, and DCI.  DCI has integrated math so the courses are not labeled traditionally like above.

DCPS is way behind by only offering basically what is remedial math and some schools Algebra 1 in 8th, which at most schools is just the standard track.  This should not be surprising when the overwhelming majority of kids are way below grade level.  They don’t have the critical mass to offer accelerated so don’t.[/quote]

What does a student gain by taking Calculus in 10th grade vs 12th? [/quote]

There are a really small number of kids in DC who do this (highest levels at Deal, Hardy and DCI and everyone at BASIS) and it's nice to give those very mathy kids the chance to take BC calc in 11th and multivariable in 12th.

But the main concern is at the other end -- if most DCPS schools only offer Algebra in 8th, those schools are not meeting the needs of kids who want to go into math/science because they will at most be able to take AB calc in 12th, and the vast majority of the kids they will be competing with for college spots will have taken AB calc in 11th.

It's not necessary for all kids, of course, but it should be in option in all public schools to offer Geometry in 8th. (As is done in the burbs). Schools that don't are not meeting the needs of all of their students.[/quote]

Well no. They may have the opportunity to catch up by doubling up math classes. I think it's extremely important to offer Algebra I in 7th and 8th, but I don't agree with the doom and gloom that they're forever banned from Calc BC or multivariable. They can take more math as an elective. [/quote]

That's true! If we had ended up at a school that only offered algebra, we would have found a way to get our kid a geometry credit over the summer. Luckily he got a lottery spot at a school that has acceleration.

I think the main thing that bothers me these days is the very very low expectations of DCPS in middle school. I've heard it from teachers, SBOEs, and parents. We need to somehow convince DCPS that having high standards will help everyone succeed, and meeting the needs of advanced kids is part of their mandate.[/quote]

100% agree. I just don't think it's good to tell people it's impossible to get ahead in math, because that just isn't true. [/quote]

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