I am one of the previous posters. We were informed a few weeks back that the appeal was successful and he would be in Algebra I. He did not need to do any additional assessments. I don’t understand why things can’t be more consistent across the county.

I’m the OP. I’m so frustrated. The school said they would let us know by August 9 on whether the appeal worked. Instead they have sent an email stating they want to do an additional assessment on August 8. WTH!!! We are on vacation next week! So now either they will have to reschedule or we need to cut our trip short in order to do this. Why not just say this back in July?? That there will be an additional assessment? Why tell people that 1 week before in the summer time? 😖😖😖😖😖😖

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain why kids need to take algebra in 7th? I took Algebra in 9th and AP Calculus in 12th and have a phD in mechanical engineering. Not sure what taking Algebra in 7th would have done to change my schooling and career path?

According to FCPS course sequencing https://www.fcps.edu/academics/graduation-requirements-and-course-planning/high-school-course-sequencing/mathematics
Calculus AB/BC needs 5 years of high school math, starting Algebra at least at 8th grade.

Competition are not the same as 20 years ago so to get in T25 parents are pressured to think their kid needs Calculus at grade 11 and another advanced math class in grade 12.

While competition is indeed stiffer for the top schools than 20 years ago, for the middling and bottom colleges it's much less stiff - they are facing down the demographic cliff. And believe it or not, kids from not T50 schools will also do OK. If your child is a striver, great. But otherwise...it will work out.

For Virginia state schools it is stiffer than ever. JMU used to be an extremely easy admit and now they are rejecting decent students. You have to drop far below T50 for the demographic shift to matter

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain why kids need to take algebra in 7th? I took Algebra in 9th and AP Calculus in 12th and have a phD in mechanical engineering. Not sure what taking Algebra in 7th would have done to change my schooling and career path?

According to FCPS course sequencing https://www.fcps.edu/academics/graduation-requirements-and-course-planning/high-school-course-sequencing/mathematics
Calculus AB/BC needs 5 years of high school math, starting Algebra at least at 8th grade.

Competition are not the same as 20 years ago so to get in T25 parents are pressured to think their kid needs Calculus at grade 11 and another advanced math class in grade 12.

While competition is indeed stiffer for the top schools than 20 years ago, for the middling and bottom colleges it's much less stiff - they are facing down the demographic cliff. And believe it or not, kids from not T50 schools will also do OK. If your child is a striver, great. But otherwise...it will work out.

Has anyone else heard back on this

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain why kids need to take algebra in 7th? I took Algebra in 9th and AP Calculus in 12th and have a phD in mechanical engineering. Not sure what taking Algebra in 7th would have done to change my schooling and career path?

According to FCPS course sequencing https://www.fcps.edu/academics/graduation-requirements-and-course-planning/high-school-course-sequencing/mathematics
Calculus AB/BC needs 5 years of high school math, starting Algebra at least at 8th grade.

Competition are not the same as 20 years ago so to get in T25 parents are pressured to think their kid needs Calculus at grade 11 and another advanced math class in grade 12.

I have a child taking Algebra 1 in 7th grade next year. He loves math. He takes math competition classes because he thinks they are fun. He does math competition exams on the weekend for fun and reviews the ones he gets wrong with his dad. He likes math, a lot. He needs Algebra 1 in 7th grade because math in ES was easy and, well, boring. He grasped the concepts quickly, he could explain his answers, he would show his work. We are hoping that Algebra 1 in 7th will provide him with some degree of challenge.

I took Algebra 1 as a 9th grader, my husband took it as an 8th grader so it feels like that bar has been raised for this generation of kids and Algebra 1 in 7th grade is the new advanced. Most kids will take Algebra 1 by 8th grade today, I think it is something like 75% of FCPS students will have completed Algebra 1 by 8th grade. Kids taking Algebra 1 in 9th grade aer seen as on the remedial track, in all honesty I was on the remedial math track when I took Algebra 1 in 9th grade. Math and I did not get along, I finished HS with 3 years of math.

Anonymous wrote:Can someone explain why kids need to take algebra in 7th? I took Algebra in 9th and AP Calculus in 12th and have a phD in mechanical engineering. Not sure what taking Algebra in 7th would have done to change my schooling and career path?

According to FCPS course sequencing https://www.fcps.edu/academics/graduation-requirements-and-course-planning/high-school-course-sequencing/mathematics
Calculus AB/BC needs 5 years of high school math, starting Algebra at least at 8th grade.

Competition are not the same as 20 years ago so to get in T25 parents are pressured to think their kid needs Calculus at grade 11 and another advanced math class in grade 12.

Anonymous wrote:PP here

99% IAAT
489 SOL

Ok! Good to know! My child was 87 IAAT and 525 SOL… so will see.

In fact, the SOL is more important than the IAAT for the students to learn Algebra 1 hornors well.

PP here

99% IAAT
489 SOL

Anonymous wrote:PP here. I never heard back from the school, so I called them yesterday. He was placed in Algebra I.

Awesome! What were his scores? And what school if you don’t mind me asking ?

Which AAP center middle school? do not need to take the test again.

PP here. I never heard back from the school, so I called them yesterday. He was placed in Algebra I.

Anonymous wrote:PP here. No, haven’t heard anything yet. Perhaps they will email at the end of the day?

Please do update if you hear anything. Curious on how they let you know. Did you check sis parents and see if your child’s schedule has been updated at all?

PP here. No, haven’t heard anything yet. Perhaps they will email at the end of the day?