Mathematics

Pathways to Student Success 

 In order to be mathematically well-prepared upon graduation, students need to complete four credits in high school mathematics. The high school program builds on students’ preparation in Grades 6-8 with a shared pathway of three required courses taken by all students, followed by additional “specialized courses” that prepare students for life and study after high school, including specific educational and career options. Note that decisions on what pathway a student pursues should be based on his or her interests and motivation to pursue the pathway, not on prejudgments about what he or she may or may not be able to achieve. Students and parents should receive full information on the different pathways and their consequences so that they can make informed decisions, rather than having decisions made for them. Students should also be encouraged to expand their horizons by taking a pathway that provides options beyond what they may currently be considering in order to accommodate the broadest range of future interests. 

Before deciding on a pathway, consider the following: 

The first two pathway options (shaded blue) are for students who are well prepared to continue on an accelerated pathway.  The last three pathway options (shaded yellow) are for students who need more experience with the content in Algebra I with Probability before moving on to Algebra II with Statistics.  Students may gain this experience by taking Geometry with Data Analysis and Algebra I with Probability concurrently in Grade 9.  This option does not exempt students from taking a mathematics course each year of high school.  Thus, all pathways are designed so that students take mathematics in each of the four years of high school.  Students should be aware of the intended purpose of each specialized course in order to make appropriate decisions when choosing a pathway.