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Algebra I Eligibility - 7th & 8th Grade
Algebra I is a significant course in your child’s education, as it is a high school-level class that not only fulfills a graduation requirement but also concludes with the Keystone Algebra exam, a key assessment in the state’s academic standards.
To ensure that students are fully prepared and capable of succeeding in Algebra I, we use a comprehensive rubric to evaluate each student's readiness for this advanced course. The rubric takes into account various aspects of a student’s academic performance and abilities, converting these into a score that helps us determine their placement.
The areas assessed on the rubric include:
• Proficiency Math GPA: This reflects the student’s overall math performance and mastery of grade-level standards.
• Responsibility Math GPA: This measures the student’s consistency and responsibility in completing math assignments and participating in class.
• AIMS Web Math Scores: These scores provide insight into the student’s foundational math skills and their growth over time.
• CDT Test Math Scores: The Classroom Diagnostic Tools (CDT) scores help evaluate the student’s strengths and areas for improvement in mathematics.
• PVAAS Algebra I Projection: This is a statistical projection of the student’s potential success in Algebra I based on previous performance data.
• Algebra I Placement Test Score: This score assesses the student’s current understanding of concepts that are critical for success in Algebra I.
Each of these areas is converted into a score ranging from 0 to 4 on the rubric. The total score is then used to determine whether a student meets the cutoff for placement into Algebra I.
It is important to note that Algebra I is not the typical math course sequence for middle school students. The usual progression is 7th grade math followed by 8th grade math. However, for students who demonstrate the readiness and aptitude for more advanced material, Algebra I is offered to provide a more challenging curriculum.
Given the rigorous nature of Algebra I and its importance as a graduation requirement, we are committed to placing students in the course only when they are well-prepared to succeed. The rubric helps ensure that each student placed in Algebra I is ready for the demands of the course.
Algebra II eligibility for 8th grade requires succesfully passing Algebra I in 7th grade, as well as passing the Algebra I Keystone Exam.
What If a student doesn't take Algebra in Middle School?
This is the "traditional" math track for middle school. A student not taking algebra in middle school would have had 7th grade math and 8th grade math which heavily and extensively prepare students to be ready for algabraic concepts they will encounter in algebra I in 9th grade at CCHS.
Below is the math track for our high school for 9th through 12th grades:
Students entering 9th grade having not taken Algebra I, will take it 9th grade year. In 10th grade, students would take Algebra II, and in 11th grade, they would take Geometry. In 12th grade, students would have a choice of one of the math electives.
To graduate, students need 4 credits in Math.
What are the advantages of taking Algebra in middle school?
Students who are planning to go into the engineering field or any math related field would benefit from taking Algebra I and Algebra II in middle school because it "opens up" there 11th and 12th grade years so they can take AP Calculus AB in 11th grade, then AP Calculus BC in their 12th grade year. Taking just Algebra I in middle school would still open their senior year for AP Calculus AB.
So, if a student doesn't take Algebra in middle school, they miss out on Calculus?
No. Students who wait to take Algebra in high school could still take Calculus in high school. These students could "double up" somewhere along there high school career by taking more than one math class to get themselves the prerequisites to get to Calculus.
Interested in learning more about the high school classes and course tracks? Click here to look through the High School Pathways to Success Planner.
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