Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Somewhere I saw EOY but it would make mor sense to be holistic.

Keep in mind with the SOL - kids in APS will take the math 5 SOL and then in 6th grade pre-algebra take the math 8 SOL. It isn’t like that in AAP FCPS. Somehow someone needs to ensure that kids really do cover the topics of math 6 and 7. I think the approach in APS is really odd - why not accelerate earlier?

APS waits until 6th grade to accelerate for equity reasons, so that kids who take more time to develop their skills are not precluded from acceleration. But, as you note, it leads to a much sharper ramp-up in content than in FCPS, which makes acceleration more challenging for APS kids.

It’s really illogical. What APS is doing just means that only kids who are getting outside acceleration/parent help/tutoring make the cut-off because teachers are banned from introducing any concepts that are above grade level. There aren’t that many math geniuses who just “get” it, so the kids in the highest track are exclusively those who already have all the advantages. If they just started introducing accelerated material earlier, they’d cast a wider net and catch a more diverse group.

Yes, agree. The one exception might be ELL kids who achieve English proficiency later.
FCPS's approach of starting early and ramping up more gradually lets kids accelerate at school. APS's program of delayed acceleration and sharp ramp up is best suited for kids who are already accelerated.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In MS, they should have math 6/7 and then 7/8. Everyone takes algebra in 8th.

This isn’t true. Some kids take alegrara in 7th, and some kids take Math 8 in 8th, and algebra in 9th.

Or were you saying everyone SHOULD take algebra in 8th?

Anonymous wrote:In MS, they should have math 6/7 and then 7/8. Everyone takes algebra in 8th.

This isn’t true. Some kids take alegrara in 7th, and some kids take Math 8 in 8th, and algebra in 9th.

In MS, they should have math 6/7 and then 7/8. Everyone takes algebra in 8th.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Somewhere I saw EOY but it would make mor sense to be holistic.

Keep in mind with the SOL - kids in APS will take the math 5 SOL and then in 6th grade pre-algebra take the math 8 SOL. It isn’t like that in AAP FCPS. Somehow someone needs to ensure that kids really do cover the topics of math 6 and 7. I think the approach in APS is really odd - why not accelerate earlier?

APS waits until 6th grade to accelerate for equity reasons, so that kids who take more time to develop their skills are not precluded from acceleration. But, as you note, it leads to a much sharper ramp-up in content than in FCPS, which makes acceleration more challenging for APS kids.

It’s really illogical. What APS is doing just means that only kids who are getting outside acceleration/parent help/tutoring make the cut-off because teachers are banned from introducing any concepts that are above grade level. There aren’t that many math geniuses who just “get” it, so the kids in the highest track are exclusively those who already have all the advantages. If they just started introducing accelerated material earlier, they’d cast a wider net and catch a more diverse group.

Anonymous wrote:1030 used to be the cut off for algebra readiness.

Before pre-algebra? Or after?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1030 used to be the cut off for algebra readiness.

This is the Math Inventory national benchmark for algebra readiness. APS sets its own benchmark for the accelerated class consideration.

In any case, this was the last year of Math Inventory so there will be a new assessment next year.

And, parents can always place students in the class against recommendations but then you won’t be able to drop the class if your child struggles/fails easily. Unless your kid is just missing the benchmarks, stick with Math 6. They can still do Algebra 1 in 8th and get to Calculus as a senior (AB or BC).

I wouldn’t say parents can always parent-place. When we tried, they refused, but agreed to reassess after the fall MI. After that, they agreed and moved the kid into the advanced class (where he had to make up a month’s worth of work in a week, but it worked out). Very glad we pushed for that, a couple of years on.

Anonymous wrote:1030 used to be the cut off for algebra readiness.

This is the Math Inventory national benchmark for algebra readiness. APS sets its own benchmark for the accelerated class consideration.

In any case, this was the last year of Math Inventory so there will be a new assessment next year.

And, parents can always place students in the class against recommendations but then you won’t be able to drop the class if your child struggles/fails easily. Unless your kid is just missing the benchmarks, stick with Math 6. They can still do Algebra 1 in 8th and get to Calculus as a senior (AB or BC).

Anonymous wrote:Somewhere I saw EOY but it would make mor sense to be holistic.

Keep in mind with the SOL - kids in APS will take the math 5 SOL and then in 6th grade pre-algebra take the math 8 SOL. It isn’t like that in AAP FCPS. Somehow someone needs to ensure that kids really do cover the topics of math 6 and 7. I think the approach in APS is really odd - why not accelerate earlier?

APS waits until 6th grade to accelerate for equity reasons, so that kids who take more time to develop their skills are not precluded from acceleration. But, as you note, it leads to a much sharper ramp-up in content than in FCPS, which makes acceleration more challenging for APS kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A note about MS/HS, you'll no longer be prompted for anything. You can reach out to the counselor whenever you want.

Thank you! I assume counselors don't work over the summer. Is that correct?

They work over the summer.

No they don't

In my experience at Williamsburg, the guidance counselors are certainly available over the summer. Tours, class schedules, and are available for any other special concerns you may have. I can’t imagine it’s different at other schools.

1030 used to be the cut off for algebra readiness.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A note about MS/HS, you'll no longer be prompted for anything. You can reach out to the counselor whenever you want.

Thank you! I assume counselors don't work over the summer. Is that correct?

They work over the summer.

No they don't

I think kids took some new test this year too. My kid took a math test where if they passed the first part they movesld to the second, and then if they past that they moved to the 3rd and final test. He said only a handful of kids took the 3rd part. I am not sure what the test was those but a friend who works at the school said it will be used for math placement.

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know if they look only at EOY or the highest score? MOY was 1046 but dropped a bit EOY. SOL was 600 so I’d think that was enough but maybe not

My kid was placed in pre-algebra with similar scores last year. The score dropping a little is not likely to be a big deal.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Somewhere I saw EOY but it would make mor sense to be holistic.

Keep in mind with the SOL - kids in APS will take the math 5 SOL and then in 6th grade pre-algebra take the math 8 SOL. It isn’t like that in AAP FCPS. Somehow someone needs to ensure that kids really do cover the topics of math 6 and 7. I think the approach in APS is really odd - why not accelerate earlier?

Doesn’t a score of 1046 indicate 8th grade content is mastered?

IMO, no - the algorithm of that test means it will get harder (to a point) with each correct question but that doesn’t imply a mastery of all the content. Also, the district doesn’t allow it to escalate beyond one year above the grade in question (I believe this is the ceiling they set - I can’t recall specifically but it’s a more restricted range than I think makes sense), so in 5th grade, it likely isn’t even letting the kid see the 7th grade content. For instance, my 4th grader just got a 915 on the EOY MI. I know this kid knows 5th grade standards bc I taught them, but even though this indicates that the kid is scoring in the advanced range for 6th grade, I know they do not know all the 6th grade concepts well. We will cover those this summer. I anticipate this kid to go to pre-algebra for 6th but it’s because I’ve spent a lot of time teaching said kid myself. I wish I could rely on APS, but it has been really unhelpful to date.

The math inventory is a screener at best.