Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are relatively new to FCPS and still trying to get things straight. My questions is, when is the normally advanced schedule (not the super advanced track) for kids to take Algebra early? They need to take the pre-alg in 5th grade or 6th? Thanks!

Algebra is a 9th grade course. Taking it in 6th, 7th or 8th are all considered advanced. As you can see, taking pre-algebra is only needed if they take Algebra in 6th or 7th.

Because Algebra is a high school course, if your child take it in 6th grade and get a B, that grade will follow him/her all the way to college application.

If you don't want to share the private information of your child here, your best course is to talk to your math teacher in FCPS.

Taking Algebra in 7th or 8th grade is not a new thing. When I went to school in the dark ages (70’s), the advanced kids took Algebra in 7th grade and most of the grade took it in 8th.

Funny thing, my kids used the same book we used. They went to Longfellow. One took it in 7th and one took it in 8th. This was 10-15 years ago.

For middle-class families like ours, following the math acceleration path recommended by school teachers and counselors allowed us to take Multivariable Calculus and Linear Algebra in high school. This not only made our college application more competitive but also earned us college credits at UVA, saving us our hard-earned dollars. On the other hand, wealthy families have plenty of college tuition dollars at their disposal to pay starting with introductory calculus courses.

Firstly, advanced students score very high on accelerated math path as SoL scores show beyond proficiency, making the grade expungment topic irrelevant. It is likely kids who are weak in math and still attempt Algebra1 in 8th instead of grade level, are the ones considering expunging middle school grade and retaking Algebra1 in 9th grade.

Anonymous wrote:A poster appears to be desperately trying to scare parents and students from taking on accelerated math especially, algebra 1 in 7th or 6th grade, or Summer Geometry as rising 8th grader. Thousands of FCPS students pursue math acceleration and are extremely successful.

Not thousands, hundreds.

SOL history shows that about 30 kids a year take Algebra 1 in 6th grade.

SOL history shows that about 1,700 kids a year take Algebra 1 in 7th grade

SOL History shows that about 1,000 Kids a year take Algebra 2 in 8th grade, meaning that about 1,000 kids a year take Geometry in the summer.

A poor grade in ES or MS can be expunged from a HS record but Colleges are aware of that and can note expunged grades. A poor grade, and I am not certain I see a B is a bad grade, probably means that a child was not really ready for the quantity of work associated with a HS math class early and less that the child wasn’t ready for the material academically. Honestly, kids who struggle in Algebra 1 in 7th grade are probably having more executive functioning issues than academic issues. The material moves more quickly and there are more quizzes and tests then the kids are used to.

I am not sure why some people are so focused on kids being advanced in math. It really doesn’t make a huge difference for college. I get it if you have a math prodigy but very few of our kids are math prodigies. There are a lot of great outlets for kids interested in math, like the competitions and clubs, without thinking a kid needs to be taking pre calculus in 9th grade.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When student gets to middle school, rising 7th graders have these math options based on what they completed in 6th grade:
Math 7/HN, Algebra 1 HN, and Geometry HN.

https://longfellowms.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/inline-files/_Rising%207%20-%20Course%20Selection%20Sheet%2024-25%20SY.pdf

This fourth option on this selection form is the most accelerated path:
Geometry Honors (314336) - Only current 6th grade students in Algebra 1 HN are
permitted to enroll in this course

In elementary school, work closely with your counselor to discuss this option and how placement in 4th, 5th, and 6th grade math impact middle school math progression. On this path, prealgebra concepts are covered in elementary school itself.

Fwiw, most FCPS middle schools do not offer Algebra 2 - so if you are on the super accelerated path and take Geometry in 7th grade, then taking Algebra 2 as an 8th grader is a logistical problem. And there's really no benefit to it, for college application purposes. All headache and no gain.

Anonymous wrote:When student gets to middle school, rising 7th graders have these math options based on what they completed in 6th grade:
Math 7/HN, Algebra 1 HN, and Geometry HN.

https://longfellowms.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/inline-files/_Rising%207%20-%20Course%20Selection%20Sheet%2024-25%20SY.pdf

This fourth option on this selection form is the most accelerated path:
Geometry Honors (314336) - Only current 6th grade students in Algebra 1 HN are
permitted to enroll in this course

In elementary school, work closely with your counselor to discuss this option and how placement in 4th, 5th, and 6th grade math impact middle school math progression. On this path, prealgebra concepts are covered in elementary school itself.

A poster appears to be desperately trying to scare parents and students from taking on accelerated math especially, algebra 1 in 7th or 6th grade, or Summer Geometry as rising 8th grader. Thousands of FCPS students pursue math acceleration and are extremely successful.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are relatively new to FCPS and still trying to get things straight. My questions is, when is the normally advanced schedule (not the super advanced track) for kids to take Algebra early? They need to take the pre-alg in 5th grade or 6th? Thanks!

Algebra is a 9th grade course. Taking it in 6th, 7th or 8th are all considered advanced. As you can see, taking pre-algebra is only needed if they take Algebra in 6th or 7th.

Because Algebra is a high school course, if your child take it in 6th grade and get a B, that grade will follow him/her all the way to college application.

If you don't want to share the private information of your child here, your best course is to talk to your math teacher in FCPS.

This scaremongering is simply false. HS grades before HS can be expunged.

PP, I meant to say taking pre-alg "in 5th or 6th grade" is only needed if they take Algebra in 6th or 7th.

Anonymous wrote:We are relatively new to FCPS and still trying to get things straight. My questions is, when is the normally advanced schedule (not the super advanced track) for kids to take Algebra early? They need to take the pre-alg in 5th grade or 6th? Thanks!

Algebra is a 9th grade course. Taking it in 6th, 7th or 8th are all considered advanced. As you can see, taking pre-algebra is only needed if they take Algebra in 6th or 7th.

Because Algebra is a high school course, if your child take it in 6th grade and get a B, that grade will follow him/her all the way to college application.

If you don't want to share the private information of your child here, your best course is to talk to your math teacher in FCPS.

When student gets to middle school, rising 7th graders have these math options based on what they completed in 6th grade:
Math 7/HN, Algebra 1 HN, and Geometry HN.

https://longfellowms.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/inline-files/_Rising%207%20-%20Course%20Selection%20Sheet%2024-25%20SY.pdf

Anonymous wrote:There is no course called prealgebra. Not very common but if student demonstrates higher level math in 4th grade, they get advanced by a year from there on based on their continued performance.

from another thread....

To take Algebra I in 6th grade, the kid must:
Score 145 or higher on the CogAT Quant section
Score a 575 or higher on their 4th grade SOL
have the support of their 4th grade AAP/advanced math teacher.

Then, if they meet all of these at the end of 4th grade, Gatehouse will conduct additional testing. Kids who meet those benchmarks will be jumped up to 6th grade AAP math when in 5th grade.

In 5th grade, they need a 91st percentile or higher score on the IAAT as well as a pass advanced on the 7th grade Math SOL to be eligible for Algebra in 6th grade.
report

That is the super advanced track that OP said she is not asking about. Not helpful.

There is no course called prealgebra. Not very common but if student demonstrates higher level math in 4th grade, they get advanced by a year from there on based on their continued performance.

from another thread....

To take Algebra I in 6th grade, the kid must:
Score 145 or higher on the CogAT Quant section
Score a 575 or higher on their 4th grade SOL
have the support of their 4th grade AAP/advanced math teacher.

Then, if they meet all of these at the end of 4th grade, Gatehouse will conduct additional testing. Kids who meet those benchmarks will be jumped up to 6th grade AAP math when in 5th grade.

In 5th grade, they need a 91st percentile or higher score on the IAAT as well as a pass advanced on the 7th grade Math SOL to be eligible for Algebra in 6th grade.
report

All AAP students and students in Advanced Math take prealgebra in 6th grade.

We are relatively new to FCPS and still trying to get things straight. My questions is, when is the normally advanced schedule (not the super advanced track) for kids to take Algebra early? They need to take the pre-alg in 5th grade or 6th? Thanks!