Anonymous wrote:OP is not out of date. The new fastest math pathway is ongoing in my DC's CES. A class of student is in this pathway, skipping 4th grade math, learning 5/6 math right now, and will start IM in their 5th grade. Let's see how many other CESs are running this new pathway right now. I've heard at least one more CES center is implementing this right now.

True. And 20+ kids are on this from one school. I'll be surprised if no other schools are implementing this.

OP is not out of date. The new fastest math pathway is ongoing in my DC's CES. A class of student is in this pathway, skipping 4th grade math, learning 5/6 math right now, and will start IM in their 5th grade. Let's see how many other CESs are running this new pathway right now. I've heard at least one more CES center is implementing this right now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the benefit for kids (outlier or not) taking IM at grade 5? -be prepared for math competition? finish math earlier so that they have more time to do other things in high school?

No matter what, you must do 4 years of math at HS. So, you don't really buy yourself anything by doing IM in 5th, and please remember that it is exceedingly rare to hit IM by that point. The regular accelerated math track at MCPS puts kids in AP Calculus in 11th grade, which is sufficient for all but the absolute outliers.

There's also a maturity level issue. If a child is doing HS math in middle school, then historically those grades have been reflected on their high school transcript. I've heard a rumor that might be ending, but am not sure. Basically, this means you are trusting an 11 year-old to have not only the raw ability to do the work, but the maturity and work ethic to do it well, on time, etc.

Anonymous wrote:What is the benefit for kids (outlier or not) taking IM at grade 5? -be prepared for math competition? finish math earlier so that they have more time to do other things in high school?

No matter what, you must do 4 years of math at HS. So, you don't really buy yourself anything by doing IM in 5th, and please remember that it is exceedingly rare to hit IM by that point. The regular accelerated math track at MCPS puts kids in AP Calculus in 11th grade, which is sufficient for all but the absolute outliers.

What is the benefit for kids (outlier or not) taking IM at grade 5? -be prepared for math competition? finish math earlier so that they have more time to do other things in high school?