Anonymous wrote:To recap: 8th grade Algebra is 1 year of math acceleration, 8th grade Geometry is 2 years, AA is 3 years. A small number of students and Deal (and Basis) do 3 years of middle school math acceleration. Amplify science is research-based, widely used by a very large number of school districts and not unique to DCPS. Is there something better out there? maybe. but its not a very good data point for arguing why dcps is uniquely terrible. reading full books at a decent clip is important. at least some dcps middle school classes do this.

All the DCPS middle schools with the exception of Deal and Hardy have terrible science CAPE scores, like 10 percent PROFICIENCY or less. Something is deeply wrong. They aren't learning science. BASIS and Latin both are above 50 % proficiency, so it isn't the test.

Yes, this is something that matters to a subset of parents. And all parents should not be excusing such low standards.

To recap: 8th grade Algebra is 1 year of math acceleration, 8th grade Geometry is 2 years, AA is 3 years. A small number of students and Deal (and Basis) do 3 years of middle school math acceleration. Amplify science is research-based, widely used by a very large number of school districts and not unique to DCPS. Is there something better out there? maybe. but its not a very good data point for arguing why dcps is uniquely terrible. reading full books at a decent clip is important. at least some dcps middle school classes do this.

Anonymous wrote:I do not really remember my own middle school science. But I know it involved textbooks and old school rote memorization of facts. Amplify is part of a recent movement away from this style of learning in favor of requiring younger students to engage more deeply, thinking more critically, make connections to real-world scenarios, also build writing skills etc.

You can't make connections if you don't know the facts. Knowing means, yes, memorization.

There is actually another movement brewing that realizes this, and is advocating for a movement back to actual content learning, rather than "skill" building, which is empty without content. According to eduation experts I know, this is the next "Lucy Calkins was wrong" thing.

Frankly, I think it is terrible all the posters on here making excuses for DCPS as to why they don’t offer accelerated math except for Deal. It is not like there are many kid who can’t do it. Lots of math loving kids who can handle the course. You can bet those families of high performers will not even look at these schools. it is not like this is even special. All the schools in the burbs offer it in their curriculum.

Yes, I have heard that the new science curriculum, Amplify, is terrible. These comments are coming from actual science teachers no less.

Then there is the new ELA curriculum where kids no longer read any whole books at all. It’s bad enough that they read maybe a few at some of the schools.

How much lower do you want to get? The race to the bottom is never ending, just when you think it can’t get lower, it does.

So carry on parents, making one excuse after another instead of demanding better and more from DCPS. It actually has the opposite of effect of what you are trying to accomplish.

I do not really remember my own middle school science. But I know it involved textbooks and old school rote memorization of facts. Amplify is part of a recent movement away from this style of learning in favor of requiring younger students to engage more deeply, thinking more critically, make connections to real-world scenarios, also build writing skills etc.

I read on this board that Amplify science is absolutely terrible. It is actually a research-based curriculum developed at UC Berkeley that is used by a lot of public schools. It requires students to do a lot of inquiry-based learning to encourage students to develop critical thinking skills and lots of written responses (literacy component). I am sure it has various pros and cons but it does not seem to really be all that terrible.

So now we know math.


Now do science.

I think and I could be wrong there is typically a hs class between advanced algebra and calculus. so algebra in 8th is important for calculus in hs. 8th grade geometry further provides for calculus in 11th grade which is potentially useful for taking physics with calculus in 12th, easier to also take ap statistics, etc. not everybody is going to be ready for algebra in 6th grade (or wants to do summer acceleration work). you can ultimately go on to major in math or science at almost any college irrespective of how much math you happened to do in middle school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CAPE middle school math scores. The following schools offer algebra: Wells, Hardy, OA, Brookland, CHML, Browne, Deal, Eliot-Hine, John Francis, Hart, Johnson, Kramer, MacFarland, Kelley Miller, Sousa, Stuart-Hovson, Jefferson, McKinley, CHEC, and Cardozo.

The following had geometry: Hardy, OA, Deal, Eliot-Hine, Sousa, Jefferson, and CHEC

So, no overwhelming majority of schools do not offer geometry.

Here is the other thing. You can name a course whatever you want but is it really covering what is needed, rigorous, and are the students mastering the subjects.

PP why don’t you give us the CAPE algebra scores of 4 and above for all the schools above.

Algebra I meets/exceeds:
Deal 92%
MacFarland 86%
Hardy 84%
John Francis 75%
Stuart-Hobson 70%
Wells 68%
Eliot-Hine 66%
Oyster-Adams 59%
Jefferson 50%
Kelly Miller 43%

The other half are below 25%


Geometry meets/exceeds:
Deal >95%
Hardy >95%
Eliot-Hine 53%

The others have fewer than 10 students so scores are not reported

So Algebra 1 in middle school just gets you to Cal in 12th. This is the standard track, nothing advance at all.

A lot of shifting goalposts here.

"Basically no DCPS middle schools offer Algebra!"
"Actually all of them do."
"Well it's not rigorous. Show me the standardized test scores!"
"9 schools have more than half of students meeting or exceeding standards."
"Well Algebra isn't advanced math anyway."

This. Also the PP who noted that taking AP Calc in 10th is really not necessary for all kids, even those who are academically ambitious. It could be beneficial for a minority of kids who are (1) ready for it, and (2) aiming for STEM majors in college. If your kid is unlikely to be in either of those categories, it's perfectly fine for them to take Geometry in HS. They can still take Calc in 11th and do both AP Calc classes before college, which will prepare the vast majority of kids for college. In terms of college admissions, what will be most important will be actual grades in those classes, as well as standardized test scores. Outside of a handful of majors, taking Calc in 10th grade is simply not necessary.

Also, Algebra I in 8th is still considered accelerated. Standard track means Algebra I in 9th grade. Geometry in 8th should be properly reserved only for kids who are truly advanced in math. That's good! Even at a school with exclusively UMC students and plenty of resources, the idea that ALL kids, or even half of kids, should be taking the most accelerated math track doesn't make sense. Kids have different strengths and interests. That track should be selective.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CAPE middle school math scores. The following schools offer algebra: Wells, Hardy, OA, Brookland, CHML, Browne, Deal, Eliot-Hine, John Francis, Hart, Johnson, Kramer, MacFarland, Kelley Miller, Sousa, Stuart-Hovson, Jefferson, McKinley, CHEC, and Cardozo.

The following had geometry: Hardy, OA, Deal, Eliot-Hine, Sousa, Jefferson, and CHEC

So, no overwhelming majority of schools do not offer geometry.

Here is the other thing. You can name a course whatever you want but is it really covering what is needed, rigorous, and are the students mastering the subjects.

PP why don’t you give us the CAPE algebra scores of 4 and above for all the schools above.

Algebra I meets/exceeds:
Deal 92%
MacFarland 86%
Hardy 84%
John Francis 75%
Stuart-Hobson 70%
Wells 68%
Eliot-Hine 66%
Oyster-Adams 59%
Jefferson 50%
Kelly Miller 43%

The other half are below 25%


Geometry meets/exceeds:
Deal >95%
Hardy >95%
Eliot-Hine 53%

The others have fewer than 10 students so scores are not reported

So Algebra 1 in middle school just gets you to Cal in 12th. This is the standard track, nothing advance at all.

A lot of shifting goalposts here.

"Basically no DCPS middle schools offer Algebra!"
"Actually all of them do."
"Well it's not rigorous. Show me the standardized test scores!"
"9 schools have more than half of students meeting or exceeding standards."
"Well Algebra isn't advanced math anyway."

That is right. But are you IB for Deal? At a DCI feeder? Is Basis a good fit? Does your child actually even need Advanced Algebra in middle school and 10th grade calculus? Are you thinking about private high school where kids are not pushed into 10th grade calculus but instead typically made to retake the super accelerated math? What math is your child going to take in 11th and 12th grade?

Here is the bottom line for math.

If you want a decent cohort of kids in accelerated math to get you to AP Calculus by 10th, it’s Deal, Basis, and DCI.

End of story

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CAPE middle school math scores. The following schools offer algebra: Wells, Hardy, OA, Brookland, CHML, Browne, Deal, Eliot-Hine, John Francis, Hart, Johnson, Kramer, MacFarland, Kelley Miller, Sousa, Stuart-Hovson, Jefferson, McKinley, CHEC, and Cardozo.

The following had geometry: Hardy, OA, Deal, Eliot-Hine, Sousa, Jefferson, and CHEC

So, no overwhelming majority of schools do not offer geometry.

Here is the other thing. You can name a course whatever you want but is it really covering what is needed, rigorous, and are the students mastering the subjects.

PP why don’t you give us the CAPE algebra scores of 4 and above for all the schools above.

Algebra I meets/exceeds:
Deal 92%
MacFarland 86%
Hardy 84%
John Francis 75%
Stuart-Hobson 70%
Wells 68%
Eliot-Hine 66%
Oyster-Adams 59%
Jefferson 50%
Kelly Miller 43%

The other half are below 25%


Geometry meets/exceeds:
Deal >95%
Hardy >95%
Eliot-Hine 53%

The others have fewer than 10 students so scores are not reported

So Algebra 1 in middle school just gets you to Cal in 12th. This is the standard track, nothing advance at all.

This is not supposed to be DCPS v charters. It is more hey 4th grade families playing the middle school lottery this spring — if you dont have sibling priority and ultimately like most dont land a spot at Latin, are not sure your child is a good fit at Basis, etc. — take a closer look at the available DCPS option(s) because there are lots of us out there who were more or less in that same position, tried the neighborhood school, and found we liked it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CAPE middle school math scores. The following schools offer algebra: Wells, Hardy, OA, Brookland, CHML, Browne, Deal, Eliot-Hine, John Francis, Hart, Johnson, Kramer, MacFarland, Kelley Miller, Sousa, Stuart-Hovson, Jefferson, McKinley, CHEC, and Cardozo.

The following had geometry: Hardy, OA, Deal, Eliot-Hine, Sousa, Jefferson, and CHEC

So, no overwhelming majority of schools do not offer geometry.

Here is the other thing. You can name a course whatever you want but is it really covering what is needed, rigorous, and are the students mastering the subjects.

PP why don’t you give us the CAPE algebra scores of 4 and above for all the schools above.

Algebra I meets/exceeds:
Deal 92%
MacFarland 86%
Hardy 84%
John Francis 75%
Stuart-Hobson 70%
Wells 68%
Eliot-Hine 66%
Oyster-Adams 59%
Jefferson 50%
Kelly Miller 43%

The other half are below 25%


Geometry meets/exceeds:
Deal >95%
Hardy >95%
Eliot-Hine 53%

The others have fewer than 10 students so scores are not reported