Anonymous wrote:

I don't know what will happen with those courses, but I personally would not conclude that the courses will be bankrupt because of terminology used in ES courses. For example, if the term "geometry" is used to describe shape recognition in K, I wouldn't assume that people will still be cutting out triangles or not covering standard geometry topics in middle school or high school.

I wouldn't expect second graders to be cutting out triangles and calling it geometry yet this is what they are doing in 2.0. IF MCPS doesn't water down high school math and offers excellent courses then parents paying for tutors will re-evaluate.

What would you be expecting second-graders to do for geometry?

Also, I have a second-grader. Geometry for my second-grader has not involved cutting out triangles.

I don't know what will happen with those courses, but I personally would not conclude that the courses will be bankrupt because of terminology used in ES courses. For example, if the term "geometry" is used to describe shape recognition in K, I wouldn't assume that people will still be cutting out triangles or not covering standard geometry topics in middle school or high school.

I wouldn't expect second graders to be cutting out triangles and calling it geometry yet this is what they are doing in 2.0. IF MCPS doesn't water down high school math and offers excellent courses then parents paying for tutors will re-evaluate.

I don't know what will happen with those courses, but I personally would not conclude that the courses will be bankrupt because of terminology used in ES courses. For example, if the term "geometry" is used to describe shape recognition in K, I wouldn't assume that people will still be cutting out triangles or not covering standard geometry topics in middle school or high school.

In middle school and high school, students take courses called algebra, geometry, algebra 2, calculus, etc. This is true not only in MCPS, but in school systems all around the country. Parents who are interested in math education in MCPS are certainly aware of what courses are available in middle school and high school by 5th grade, if not sooner. My goal for my children is that they take AP calculus by 12th grade, or possibly 11th. The goal may change, but that's what I'm thinking now, and I don't think it's top secret or scary information.

If high school math MCPS courses are irrelevant to you or if your children are young and you have not thought about high school math courses, then, yes, the question is irrelevant to you. I'm sure other parents have thought about what high school math courses they think their children should be taking or what they're capable of taking.

I'm concerned that algebra, geometry, algebra 2 and calculus will have the same names but will not cover the material in as thorough or rigorous a manner as better school systems. I've seen how MCPS places lofty names on very basic, preschool level, math exercises at the elementary school. If the same people designing 2.0 for ES are responsible for changes to the high school math classes then the course names will not matter. The courses will be as remedial as the ES ones and not prepare the kids for math careers or math at university beyond a community college.

No, I don't think it is necessary. When I don't know the lingo, I google it, and getting up to speed takes under an hour.

Math in MCPS isn't just easy, basic and boring..its broken and does not present the subject appropriately. Other posters have written eloquently about this and provided examples.

If some MCPS staffer doesn't like it that parents replace their curriculum, and consistently ignores all the examples of what is missing and wrong to simply defend their own Math in MCPS isn't just easy, basic and boring..its broken and does not present the subject appropriately. Other posters have written eloquently about this and provided examples.

If some MCPS staffer doesn't like it that parents replace their curriculum, and consistently ignores all the examples of what is missing and wrong to simply defend their own existence, who cares? These people are meaningless and just a barrier to education.


But you didn't answer the question. The question is about math course goals by grade in high school.


I'm not sure why I am engaging you. Parents who are replacing the curriculum do not do it with an MCPS course goal by grade in mind. In fact, you can't track along MCPS grade levels because there is so much repetition. My 7 year old is enjoying division right now. I understand that this isn't introduced until 3rd grade and only at a basic level. It repeats again in 4th grade at a slightly high level but not much. Is my 7 year old doing 4th grade math, 3rd grade math, 5th grade math? By MCPS standards sure but that wasn't the goal nor do I think it matters what MCPS calls on grade level.

In high school, I would want my child to continue with his love of math and be able to apply it to fields where math reasoning aligns. This isn't a course by grade goal as defined by MCPS. level. It repeats again in 4th grade at a slightly high level but not much. Is my 7 year old doing 4th grade math, 3rd grade math, 5th grade math? By MCPS standards sure but that wasn't the goal nor do I think it matters what MCPS calls on grade level.

In high school, I would want my child to continue with his love of math and be able to apply it to fields where math reasoning aligns. This isn't a course by grade goal as defined by MCPS.



In middle school and high school, students take courses called algebra, geometry, algebra 2, calculus, etc. This is true not only in MCPS, but in school systems all around the country. Parents who are interested in math education in MCPS are certainly aware of what courses are available in middle school and high school by 5th grade, if not sooner. My goal for my children is that they take AP calculus by 12th grade, or possibly 11th. The goal may change, but that's what I'm thinking now, and I don't think it's top secret or scary information.

If high school math MCPS courses are irrelevant to you or if your children are young and you have not thought about high school math courses, then, yes, the question is irrelevant to you. I'm sure other parents have thought about what high school math courses they think their children should be taking or what they're capable of taking.