Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reason to try to "catch up" would be because of the cohort of kids who are taking Algebra 2 in 9th grade. If it's a better class because the kids are more motivated, understand things quicker, etc. that is something for you to consider. But that may not be the case at your school. One thing that might happen is that the Honors Algebra 2 class is not limited to 9th graders but has 10th or even 11th graders in it. That could affect the dynamics too. All things for you to consider.

Actually, it's not really like that. "Honors" Algebra II in 9th grade is going to include kids from 9th - 12th grades, so there's no real cohort advantage. There will be kids on the "advanced" track, kids on the "regular" track, and kids on the "remedial" track, all in the same classroom.

So-called remedial students are not taking honors Algebra 2.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reason to try to "catch up" would be because of the cohort of kids who are taking Algebra 2 in 9th grade. If it's a better class because the kids are more motivated, understand things quicker, etc. that is something for you to consider. But that may not be the case at your school. One thing that might happen is that the Honors Algebra 2 class is not limited to 9th graders but has 10th or even 11th graders in it. That could affect the dynamics too. All things for you to consider.

Actually, it's not really like that. "Honors" Algebra II in 9th grade is going to include kids from 9th - 12th grades, so there's no real cohort advantage. There will be kids on the "advanced" track, kids on the "regular" track, and kids on the "remedial" track, all in the same classroom.

This is true to some extent in the sense it is mixed grades, but I doubt you’d see a lot of remedial kids in the honors section. Even some of the advanced kids drop down to the regular section because Algebra 2 and pre-calc seem to be the first time math really becomes more challenging for even the advanced kids.

For what it's worth, my experience with a kid who is not that math focused was that the so-called honors algebra 2 was still pretty heterogeneous and it wasn't until pre-calculus that kids started dropping down to regular level. In fact, I'm not even sure that our school had a regular level algebra 2.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The reason to try to "catch up" would be because of the cohort of kids who are taking Algebra 2 in 9th grade. If it's a better class because the kids are more motivated, understand things quicker, etc. that is something for you to consider. But that may not be the case at your school. One thing that might happen is that the Honors Algebra 2 class is not limited to 9th graders but has 10th or even 11th graders in it. That could affect the dynamics too. All things for you to consider.

Actually, it's not really like that. "Honors" Algebra II in 9th grade is going to include kids from 9th - 12th grades, so there's no real cohort advantage. There will be kids on the "advanced" track, kids on the "regular" track, and kids on the "remedial" track, all in the same classroom.

This is true to some extent in the sense it is mixed grades, but I doubt you’d see a lot of remedial kids in the honors section. Even some of the advanced kids drop down to the regular section because Algebra 2 and pre-calc seem to be the first time math really becomes more challenging for even the advanced kids.

Anonymous wrote:The reason to try to "catch up" would be because of the cohort of kids who are taking Algebra 2 in 9th grade. If it's a better class because the kids are more motivated, understand things quicker, etc. that is something for you to consider. But that may not be the case at your school. One thing that might happen is that the Honors Algebra 2 class is not limited to 9th graders but has 10th or even 11th graders in it. That could affect the dynamics too. All things for you to consider.

Actually, it's not really like that. "Honors" Algebra II in 9th grade is going to include kids from 9th - 12th grades, so there's no real cohort advantage. There will be kids on the "advanced" track, kids on the "regular" track, and kids on the "remedial" track, all in the same classroom.

What did your DD end up doing? I wouldn't do it at MCPS but at a different institution. They won't teach in summer school. It's mostly for credit recovery.

Personally I think it's a horrible idea too as you can't possibly absorb that much material without really intense work which unless she absolutely loves math is not a great way to spend her summer.

I get the issue OP but another option would be to double up on math next school year which I believe many schools allow.

Horrible idea

i will say it is extremely difficult

My son is in Honor Geometry as an 8th grader, and will do Honors Algebra II in 9th grade.

Like your daughter, the standard track was too easy. This one is appropriately challenging, in the sense that he needs to work to get As.

I'm all for academic advancement! DS is going to take programming classes at Montgomery College over the summer, perhaps they have Geometry classes. However, you have to ask yourself whether she's a natural math person or not? My son isn't. I'm worried he'll struggle at some point during his high school years, since kids are required to take one math class a year, and he'll have to select challenging classes in 11th and 12th (there are easier ones, but then it doesn't look great for college applications).

You can also take Geometry at Landon, Sidwell, St. Alban's and St. Andrew's over the summer.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not OP but how common is taking geometry in middle school these days? My DC is transferring from private middle to public HS, next year and the highest track offered at her school is honors Algebra in 8th.

In MCPS All the compacted 4/5 math students are on track to take Algebra in 7th, Geometry in 8th. The non-accellerated students take Algebra in 8th, the students who are behind in math take Algebra in 9th.

My DD will definitely feel behind then...she's used to being in the top peer group...concerned that Geometry won't be very good at public then.

My kids do some academic during the summer, every summer: math, writing, their native language. Why would you think that this is an awful way of spending your time? Your daughter could do other things as well, that you think are more entertaining.

I don't believe in summer classes. Reading and trips to museums, yes, but summer classes are a torture. But, I have read that many countries don't have summer breaks and that their kids show huge progress when compared to US kids who take a long break. So, my kid wouldn't take it. I don't know why you think she is behind though. Edline indicates MoCo and geometry as Freshman is still a year ahead for most kids.

Are high school students allowed to take a course in the summer from another online school and transfer them into Montgomery county? On the Montgomery County website, I see a link to AP courses taken online, but I don't see about other types of courses...

Anonymous wrote:How does one take a class in the summer? I haven't heard of this. How do you register and where is additional information about this?
-parent of 7th grader

This is HS summer school, in MS there are only remedial classes offered, doesn't look like the 2017 info is posted yet but for reference: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/extendedhours/summerschool/high.aspx

Anonymous wrote:Not OP but how common is taking geometry in middle school these days? My DC is transferring from private middle to public HS, next year and the highest track offered at her school is honors Algebra in 8th.

In MCPS All the compacted 4/5 math students are on track to take Algebra in 7th, Geometry in 8th. The non-accellerated students take Algebra in 8th, the students who are behind in math take Algebra in 9th.