Anonymous
Post 08/14/2024 10:24     Subject: Any way to accelerate math in HS

My kid is taking AP Calc and AP Stats both this year. She got her AP languages out of the way early and has freed up space as a result.
Anonymous
Post 08/14/2024 07:08     Subject: Any way to accelerate math in HS

Anonymous wrote:I wish all of these posts better articulated why people want to accelerate far beyond the norm. Is the child truly uniquely gifted? Bored because they go to top math camps each summer? Transferring in from a different math configuration? Hoping to graduate early? Preparing for a big math competition? Not going to finish their senior year in the US due to an expected move? Most of these post comes across as over the top parents who are just trying to get ahead of the Jones’ and it is so hard to answer helpfully when there is no context about the actual kid and their unique situation.


My kid doubled Geo and Alg II. In our case it was creative thinking for his IEP. My kid loves math. Alg II was the carrot that got him out the door and off to school in the morning. Geo at the end of the day kept him content at school knowing that math was coming.

We’re doing the same first/last period with physics and pre calc next year. He’ll also have to take bio as a 9th grader but that doesn’t incentivize him like the math based science classes do.
Anonymous
Post 08/14/2024 07:04     Subject: Any way to accelerate math in HS

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Double up geometry and algebra II in 8th. I know a couple of kids who did this.


How can this be done? Algebra II is in HS.

They take Algebra 2 at the high school 1st period and are then bussed back to the middle school. They will have a place to be (typically the media center) until MS 1st period is over, then they have the rest of the classes at the MS, which can include Geometry.


Would they need to use one of the electives for that?


Yes. It would use an elective spot.
Anonymous
Post 08/13/2024 19:44     Subject: Any way to accelerate math in HS

Anonymous wrote:I wish all of these posts better articulated why people want to accelerate far beyond the norm. Is the child truly uniquely gifted? Bored because they go to top math camps each summer? Transferring in from a different math configuration? Hoping to graduate early? Preparing for a big math competition? Not going to finish their senior year in the US due to an expected move? Most of these post comes across as over the top parents who are just trying to get ahead of the Jones’ and it is so hard to answer helpfully when there is no context about the actual kid and their unique situation.


OP here - these responses have been very helpful. Thank you all for that.
Anonymous
Post 08/13/2024 19:41     Subject: Any way to accelerate math in HS

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Double up geometry and algebra II in 8th. I know a couple of kids who did this.


How can this be done? Algebra II is in HS.

They take Algebra 2 at the high school 1st period and are then bussed back to the middle school. They will have a place to be (typically the media center) until MS 1st period is over, then they have the rest of the classes at the MS, which can include Geometry.


Would they need to use one of the electives for that?
Anonymous
Post 08/13/2024 19:29     Subject: Any way to accelerate math in HS

I wish all of these posts better articulated why people want to accelerate far beyond the norm. Is the child truly uniquely gifted? Bored because they go to top math camps each summer? Transferring in from a different math configuration? Hoping to graduate early? Preparing for a big math competition? Not going to finish their senior year in the US due to an expected move? Most of these post comes across as over the top parents who are just trying to get ahead of the Jones’ and it is so hard to answer helpfully when there is no context about the actual kid and their unique situation.
Anonymous
Post 08/13/2024 18:42     Subject: Any way to accelerate math in HS

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Double up geometry and algebra II in 8th. I know a couple of kids who did this.


How can this be done? Algebra II is in HS.

They take Algebra 2 at the high school 1st period and are then bussed back to the middle school. They will have a place to be (typically the media center) until MS 1st period is over, then they have the rest of the classes at the MS, which can include Geometry.
Anonymous
Post 08/13/2024 11:49     Subject: Any way to accelerate math in HS

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Get into Blair or Poolsville SMACS program, and you'll have the option to take function (PreCalc + version) at 9th grade, and Calc BC or Calc BC + version (called "analysis") in sophomore year.

Yes. And kids that were accelerated prior all end up in same class. Glad we didn’t waste time busing my kid around prior.


Yes, that would work and DC will apply but can hardly count on admission to the magnet.
Anonymous
Post 08/13/2024 11:26     Subject: Any way to accelerate math in HS

Anonymous wrote:Get into Blair or Poolsville SMACS program, and you'll have the option to take function (PreCalc + version) at 9th grade, and Calc BC or Calc BC + version (called "analysis") in sophomore year.

Yes. And kids that were accelerated prior all end up in same class. Glad we didn’t waste time busing my kid around prior.
Anonymous
Post 08/13/2024 10:12     Subject: Any way to accelerate math in HS

Anonymous wrote:Double up geometry and algebra II in 8th. I know a couple of kids who did this.


How can this be done? Algebra II is in HS.
Anonymous
Post 08/13/2024 10:11     Subject: Any way to accelerate math in HS

Double up geometry and algebra II in 8th. I know a couple of kids who did this.
Anonymous
Post 08/13/2024 10:07     Subject: Any way to accelerate math in HS

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yes. Take honors Alg 2 in 9th and the honors precalc in summer school.


Is this a real possibility in MCPS? I looked and I didn't get an impression it was an option.

No, that’s a joke. Honors Precalc is one of the most challenging classes. You don’t want to skimp on it in SS if you want good success in AP BC Calculus.

Really OP - very few kids are taking Calc in 10th grade. There’s really no reason to. But your best chance at accelerating is to double up Geometry with Algebra 1 or 2, or take Geometry in SS.


This. Don’t. But if you do, double up Geometry and Algebra 1 during school year. If you can’t, geometry summer school. Don’t do any others in summer school.
Anonymous
Post 08/13/2024 09:53     Subject: Any way to accelerate math in HS

I know people who took precalc at Montgomery college over the summer. I really would not recommend this unless you have a genuine math genius. Those kids are out there.
My good at math but not a genius took calc Ab junior year and calc bc senior year and got into a top college and has a really good foundation in calc. I think some of her classmates that were in the same track just AB so they could have multivariate as seniors which is also okay but I think they might not have as solid a grounding as mine does. She was nervous after having a bad math teacher earlier in HS and wanted to just slow it down so she didn’t miss things, which I think was the right call.
Anonymous
Post 08/13/2024 09:45     Subject: Any way to accelerate math in HS

Get into Blair or Poolsville SMACS program, and you'll have the option to take function (PreCalc + version) at 9th grade, and Calc BC or Calc BC + version (called "analysis") in sophomore year.
Anonymous
Post 08/13/2024 09:17     Subject: Any way to accelerate math in HS

Anonymous wrote:Just don’t. You think this is the ticket to a better college for your kid, but many schools shy away from these kids and go for more well-rounded candidates. They come off as burnt out and awkward at their admissions interviews. Unpopular opinion, but true.


BS of the most extraordinary order.