There are onlevel and honors level science courses for all of the basic ones (Matter and Energy, Bio, Chem, Physics). You take those before you take the AP class. Think of it the same way as taking the course in high school and then again in college.

But isn't 9th grade regular Biology "grade level"? It was back when I was in MoCo HS...then Chemistry, then Physics...

We took Geometry at the same time as Biology. (and never used it for Biology or Chemistry!!)

Anonymous wrote:Wasn't one of the drivers of the new math curriculum (besides common core alignment) to eliminate "tracking". Now I hear that they are adding in different pathways for more advanced students and students that need to spend more time on specific content. The new charts look a lot like the previous ones.

Actually, I think that one of the drivers was to reduce over-acceleration. So yes, the new chart looks like the previous one in that there is an above-grade-level pathway, a grade-level pathway, and a below-grade-level pathway -- but the proportion of children in the above-grade-level pathway is smaller, and the above-grade-level pathway does not start until fourth grade.

Why would geometry be a pre-req for biology? And what science do 9th graders at RM take if they can't take biology? Why does not taking biology in 9th grade preclude them from taking an AP science class in high school?

Can anyone point me in the direction of an explantion of compacted math and the selection process? I did not know that "compacted math" existed until well into this 4th grade year when my DD told me there is a "compacted math" section. Is this tracking by another name?

I personally feel like Algebra in the 8th grade is plenty accelerated enough (that was the accelerated track when I was in school - it was challenging enough for me and I was a very good math student who did take AP calc). I didn't push for my DD to be in compacted math - I think the "on grade level" 2.0 math speed is about right for her. But please tell me that her ability to take an AP science class in high school will not be determined by the fact that she did not start in compacted math in the 4th grade.

Simply look at the long-term data for your answer. What proportion of the students in the various math tracks in elementary school are eventually scoring 4s and 5s on AP Calculus in high school...if they get there? HGC to MS magnets to Blair and RM magnets (these kids by and large are > 1,2 or 3 years ahead in math from elementary school) vs those kids who are on tract from the 4th grade? I am sure the answer to this question would unequivocably statistically favor those who stay on the mean tract in the 4th grade?

Wasn't one of the drivers of the new math curriculum (besides common core alignment) to eliminate "tracking". Now I hear that they are adding in different pathways for more advanced students and students that need to spend more time on specific content. The new charts look a lot like the previous ones.

Odd how different the science progression seems to be at different high schools. At BCC most selective college-bound kids take bio/9th, chem/10th and Physics/11th. I'm not really sure what a student who wants to take AP bio does since the only AP course "allowed" for 9th graders is AP government. So, it would seem that a kid takes bio in 9th and then opts for AP bio again, which seems weird. (But also seems to be the case if you take AP Physics or AP Chemistry, go figure.) AP bio at BCC is a 1 year double period course that only has Algebra I as a pre-requisite. IB bio is also a 1 year double period course but has Algebra I and basic stats as a pre-requisite. Seems hard to believe that RM doesn't allow 9th graders to take non-AP bio if they haven't taken Geometry, if Algebra I is the only pre-requisite for the, presumably, harder AP bio. There is absolutely no need for geometry in Biology class.

Wootton does either honors chemistry, honors matter and energy or on-level matter and energy for 9th grade. Most kids take honors matter and energy 9th, then biology and chemistry in 10th grade, physics in 11th and then whatever else beyond that.

Do any other high schools have this policy besides RM and Wooten?

Sorry, to get back to the original question:

Why would geometry be a pre-req for biology? And what science do 9th graders at RM take if they can't take biology? Why does not taking biology in 9th grade preclude them from taking an AP science class in high school?

Can anyone point me in the direction of an explantion of compacted math and the selection process? I did not know that "compacted math" existed until well into this 4th grade year when my DD told me there is a "compacted math" section. Is this tracking by another name?

I personally feel like Algebra in the 8th grade is plenty accelerated enough (that was the accelerated track when I was in school - it was challenging enough for me and I was a very good math student who did take AP calc). I didn't push for my DD to be in compacted math - I think the "on grade level" 2.0 math speed is about right for her. But please tell me that her ability to take an AP science class in high school will not be determined by the fact that she did not start in compacted math in the 4th grade.