I have a neighbor who has a son and step son..both 6th graders. One in Magnet Math. One in IM. She says they are fairly similar. MM does have more some extra depth some extra concepts...but at this point in the year she has not seen a drastically different class.

I'm the 9:55, just want to add that Regular IM is different from Magnet IM.

Magnet IM is more rigorous, and covers more areas. We went to the Clemente Magnet orientation. The Magnet IM teacher showed us the 2 very different curriculum. Magnet IM is way more "scary".

Anonymous wrote:Does Takoma Park MS access the incoming 6th graders before deciding whether they could take Algerbra 1 and skip IM? It seems some middle schools allows kids who already took Math 7 to directly go into Algerbra 1.

In general, the middle school will take the current 5th grade math teacher's recommendation and enroll the kids in 6th grade.

For Clemente Math/Science magnet, students currently taking 5th (yes, 5th grade too if one can get in), 6th, and 7th grade typically take IM. Students currently taking IM, and few (recommended by 5th gr. Math teacher.) taking 7th gr. math can take Alge.1

During the fist couple weeks of school, students will be tested, and see if the current placement is a good fit. Some will be pulled from IM to Alge.1 and vice verse.

So basically, students who are currently taking 5th gr. math WILL struggle.
Is it not wise to push an IM student to Alge.1 because the grade WILL transferred to HS transcript. Of course, if you are sure your DC is absolutely getting an A, go for it.
DC's friend was recommended by the 5th gr. teacher to take Alge.1, but her parents decided to hold her back to IM. Less stressful for the 1st year in Middle school.

Does Takoma Park MS access the incoming 6th graders before deciding whether they could take Algerbra 1 and skip IM? It seems some middle schools allows kids who already took Math 7 to directly go into Algerbra 1.

The last time MCPS instituted quotas and the one size fits all approach they apparently got into trouble. Do you think if matriculation and placement is made on a case by case basis that all students will be placed at the same level? How do you think the distribution will look like (e.g., spread, variation)? Do you get my drift? It's not about what you think in a vacuum, it's all about the individual student? I prefer the latter approach rather than a socialistic or communistic approach.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If my son is taking IM as a 5th grader, will he have to repeat next year (if he gets in). Someone just told me that all 6th graders at the magnet take Magnet Math which is basically IM. Thanks.

It's not true that all TP-magnet 6th graders take Magnet Math, instead this is the assigned math course for those who took either Math 6 or Math 7 in 5th grade; the few who took IM as 5th graders are placed in Magnet Algebra I.

This is very interesting. In our middle school most kids who were accelerated in Math (Math 7 in 5th grade) skip IM and take Algebra in 6th grade. I have often wondered whether this was advisable. If the Math magnet has them do IM between Math 7 and Algebra, this would seem like a wiser choice. It sounds like the magnet program believes that IM is a good course to take before tackling Algebra.
Thanks for the post - it will help me decide on the appropriate placement of dc next year in 6th grade.

Anonymous wrote:If my son is taking IM as a 5th grader, will he have to repeat next year (if he gets in). Someone just told me that all 6th graders at the magnet take Magnet Math which is basically IM. Thanks.

It's not true that all TP-magnet 6th graders take Magnet Math, instead this is the assigned math course for those who took either Math 6 or Math 7 in 5th grade; the few who took IM as 5th graders are placed in Magnet Algebra I.

Some 6th graders take Algebra I.

My son had to repeat. They did let a handful of kids go on ahead, but when DS asked if he could, we were given to understand that they really discourage it. The repeat goes into more depth, so it wasn't a cruise by any means.

If my son is taking IM as a 5th grader, will he have to repeat next year (if he gets in). Someone just told me that all 6th graders at the magnet take Magnet Math which is basically IM. Thanks.