The Accelerated Math program places students on rigorous and demanding mathematical course sequence pathway leading successful students to be on a 2-year ahead accelerated pathway.  This program is reserved for students who demonstrate exceptional aptitude in mathematics when compared to their peers, are truly curious about mathematics, and have an affinity for exercising their strength in problem solving and critical thinking.

To achieve a 2-year accelerated curriculum students are exposed the following standards throughout the program:

• Accelerated Grade 5 - Focus on mastering Grade 5 and Grade 6 New Jersey Student Learning Standards.

• Accelerated Grade 6 - Focus on mastering Grade 7 and Grade 8 New Jersey Student Learning Standards.

Essentially, students exposed to this program will be required to master four (4) mathematical grade level content standards over the span of two (2) years.

Please note: Students who enter a one-year ahead accelerated pathway (i.e. taking Algebra 1 in 8th grade rather than 7th grade) still have access to all high level honors courses, including AP Calculus BC, available for them to take if they demonstrate appropriate success.  More information regarding the different pathways can be found here.

This program is intended for student who demonstrate exceptional aptitude in mathematics when compared to their peers, are truly curious about mathematics, and have an affinity for exercising their strength in problem solving and critical thinking.  See above for typical traits students embody who are successful in this program.

There are multiple entry points students can entered the Accelerated Math Program

Meeting Criteria to Enter Accelerated Math 5:

The Two-Year Ahead Accelerated mathematics Pathway formally starts in Grade 5 with students being identified to take Accelerated Math 5 at the end of 4th Grade.  Grade 4 students must meet the following specified criteria as noted in the Mathematics Entrance Criteria document:  Click Here

Through the On Ramping Process:

 If a student did not qualify for the Two-Year Ahead Accelerated Mathematics Pathway initially, there are several more opportunities students can enter this intensive, rigorous course sequence through an on-ramping process.

1) At the end of Grade 5:

• • • Students must meet the specified criteria as noted in the Mathematics Entrance Criteria document for the Accelerated Middle School Math in Grade 6.

2) At the end of Grade 6:

• • • Students must meet the specified criteria as noted in the Mathematics Entrance Criteria document for the Accelerated Algebra 1 in Grade 7.

Criteria is evaluated annually and posted on this website in the spring of the prior school year.

YES, there are multiple entry points students can entered the Accelerated Math Program.

Through the On Ramping Process:

 If a student did not qualify for the Two-Year Ahead Accelerated Mathematics Pathway initially, there are several more opportunities students can enter this intensive, rigorous course sequence through an on-ramping process.

1) At the end of Grade 5:

• • • Students must meet the specified criteria as noted in the Mathematics Entrance Criteria document for the Accelerated Middle School Math in Grade 6.

2) At the end of Grade 6:

• • • Students must meet the specified criteria as noted in the Mathematics Entrance Criteria document for the Accelerated Algebra 1 in Grade 7.

Criteria is evaluated annually and posted on this website in the spring of the prior school year.

Yes! There is a great difference between exposing students to accelerated content and enriching/cultivating their mathematical minds.  The latter provides an avenue for students to become encultured in the mathematical discipline and explore their curiosity to become natural problem solvers and critical thinkers.

Coming from an educator who taught for many years and loves the discipline.  Teaching concepts prior to entering a course/grade level deprives students the experience of discovering and uncovering the intricacies and beauty of the mathematical concepts when explored in a school setting with other students.  Given the nature of mathematics, and its affinity for students to discover ideas, teaching concepts prior to entering the course/grade level will lessen the experience for students. Research continues to show students who come to their own conclusions (through discovery and exploration) about mathematical concepts, have a more lasting impact in their overall conceptual understanding of those concepts.  The greatest moments as a teacher was to lead and cultivate student experiences to achieve those 'ah-ha' moments in class. By exposing mathematical concepts ahead of time, there are less opportunities for students to achieve these 'ah-ha' moments for themselves. It is through these experiences that students gain the most amount of mathematical conceptual understanding.  

If you are wanting to provide your students with additional mathematical learning during the summer or throughout the year, I would encourage you to expose them to enriching mathematical problems outside the content they are about to learn.  This includes providing resources that enrich their problem solving ability or continue to expand their knowledge and gain additional mastery of their Algebra skills. The resources listed below hopefully will give you a place to start.   If your student does not qualify for our accelerated mathematics pathway I would encourage you to focus on providing your student the enriching resources below.

• K-5

  • Univerisity of Waterloo Problem of the Week - "The Problem of the Week is designed to provide students with an ongoing opportunity to solve mathematical problems. Each week, problems from various areas of mathematics will be posted here.....from grades 3 and up."

  • Canadian Math Kangaroo Contest - Many sample questions broken down by year and grade level.  Free Sample Questions - Practice Math Kangaroo 

  • Caribou Practice Contests - Starting from Grade 3, this website provides online practice tests used to engage students in problem solving requiring them to think outside the box. https://cariboutests.com/test/practice_test_login.php

  • NRICH problem - Grade website with interesting problems for younger children (starting at age 5) -  https://nrich.maths.org/8495

  • Illustrative Mathematics Problems - This resource provides enriching problems aligned to the Common Core Standards and tailor students experience toward approaching the problem using the content they should have learned from that standard.  The website allows you to explore the different problems they have for each standard, print them out, and solutions are provided. For example (click here), there are nine problems involving the standards for creating equations and inequalities in one variable.  You can filter by grade level and standard from the genera; website here - https://tasks.illustrativemathematics.org/content-standards

  • Jo Boaler and her youcubed team at Stanford University have created and gathered a number of tasks across all grade levels.  Tasks can be filtered by grade and topics - https://www.youcubed.org/tasks/ 

• 6-8

  • Math Counts: Problem of Week - These are great problems aimed at Middle School, however, many of them are difficult and expose students to interesting ways of using their mathematical tool-set to solve problems.  This link provides an archive of the varies Problems Of The Week along with solutions to the problems. You can also filter by content area near the top. - https://www.mathcounts.org/resources/problem-week-archive

  • American Mathematics Competitions - This is a national competition which expose students to excellent problems requiring them to problem solve and think outside-the-box.  These problem will expand students mathematical tool-set which will carry through no matter what math course they are enrolled in.

    • AMC8 website with past competitions with solutions.  Intended for students grade 8 and below. - https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/AMC_8_Problems_and_Solutions  

  • University of Waterloo Contest - Year of past contest starting From Grade 7 to Grade 11.  https://www.cemc.uwaterloo.ca/contests/past_contests.html

  • Univerisity of Waterloo Problem of the Week - "The Problem of the Week is designed to provide students with an ongoing opportunity to solve mathematical problems. Each week, problems from various areas of mathematics will be posted here.....from grades 3 and up."

  • Canadian Math Kangaroo Contest - Many sample questions broken down by year and grade level.  https://kangaroo.math.ca/index.php?kn_mod=samples

  • Caribou Practice Contests - Starting from Grade 3, this website provides online practice tests used to engage students in problem solving requiring them to think outside the box. https://cariboutests.com/test/practice_test_login.php

  • Illustrative Mathematics Problems - This resource provides enriching problems aligned to the Common Core Standards and tailor students experience toward approaching the problem using the content they should have learned from that standard.  The website allows you to explore the different problems they have for each standard, print them out, and solutions are provided. For example (click here), there are nine problems involving the standards for creating equations and inequalities in one variable.  You can filter by grade level and standard from the genera; website here - https://tasks.illustrativemathematics.org/content-standards

  • Jo Boaler and her youcubed team at Stanford University have created and gathered a number of tasks across all grade levels.  Tasks can be filtered by grade and topics - https://www.youcubed.org/tasks/ 

• 9-10

  • American Mathematics Competitions - This is a national competition which expose students to excellent problems requiring them to problem solve and think outside-the-box.  These problems will expand students mathematical tool-set which will carry through no matter what math course they are enrolled in.

    • AMC8 website with past competitions with solutions.  Intended for students grade 8 and below. - https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/AMC_8_Problems_and_Solutions  

    • AMC10 website with past competitions with solutions.  Intended for students grade 10 and below. - https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/AMC_10_Problems_and_Solutions

    • AMC12 website with past competitions with solutions.  Intended for students grade 12 and below. - https://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php/AMC_12_Problems_and_Solutions

  • Math Counts: Problem of Week - These are great problems aimed at Middle School, however, many of them are difficult and expose students to interesting ways of using their mathematical tool-set to solve problems.  This link provides an archive of the varies Problems Of The Week along with solutions to the problems. You can also filter by content area near the top. - https://www.mathcounts.org/resources/problem-week-archive

  • The Harvard-MIT Mathematics Tournament Competition -  This is similar to the AMC competition aimed at high school students.  Very challenging and demanding problems requiring students to expand their problem solving skills.  Past contents and solutions can be found here - https://www.hmmt.co/archive/problems/  

  • University of Waterloo Contest - Year of past contest starting From Grade 7 to Grade 11.  https://www.cemc.uwaterloo.ca/contests/past_contests.html

  • Univerisity of Waterloo Problem of the Week - "The Problem of the Week is designed to provide students with an ongoing opportunity to solve mathematical problems. Each week, problems from various areas of mathematics will be posted here.....from grades 3 and up."

  • Caribou Practice Contests - Starting from Grade 3, this website provides online practice tests used to engage students in problem solving requiring them to think outside the box. https://cariboutests.com/test/practice_test_login.php

  • Illustrative Mathematics Problems - This resource provides enriching problems aligned to the Common Core Standards and tailor students experience toward approaching the problem using the content they should have learned from that standard.  The website allows you to explore the different problems they have for each standard, print them out, and solutions are provided. For example (click here), there are nine problems involving the standards for creating equations and inequalities in one variable.  You can filter by grade level and standard from the genera; website here - https://tasks.illustrativemathematics.org/content-standards

  • Jo Boaler and her youcubed team at Stanford University have created and gathered a number of tasks across all grade levels.  Tasks can be filtered by grade and topics - https://www.youcubed.org/tasks/ 

With all of these resources, I would encourage your student to do the best they can and tackle problems which are appropriate for their level and content knowledge.  A lot of these problems, particularly the contest problems, can be extremely difficult and require content knowledge students will have see until future mathematical courses!  It is impressive for students to only get a few right, and should not get discourage if they do not know how to do something. However, exposure and practice with some of these problems offers a more enriching experience for students during the summer, and builds a greater capacity for learning, in their future mathematics course.