Advanced Placements
At Lanier, your students have an opportunity to be promoted to advanced classes if the level of their academic performance is going above and beyond expectations.
Lanier Math Pathways
At Lanier, we are currently offering a series of courses: Math 6 Pre-AP, Math 6 VG, Math 7 Pre-AP, Math 7 VG, Math 8, Algebra 1, and Geometry in which Algebra 1 (9th-grade level) and Geometry (10th-grade level) are high school credit courses. The Lanier Mathematics Department allows students to get into advanced math courses, Algebra I and Geometry, where they can receive up to 2 high school credits based on testing and prior math knowledge.
6th Grade
Students have an opportunity to be placed into Grade 7 Mathematics.
7th Grade:
Students have an opportunity to be placed into Algebra I.
8th Grade:
Students have an opportunity to be placed into Algebra I and Geometry.
Algebra I Placement Matrix 2024-25
2024-25 Algebra Placement Matrix.pdfMath Department Timeline.pdfImportant Dates
January 22 – STAAR Interim Assessment
February 2 – Apex Learning Mathematics 8 Texas opens. Mathia was automatically opened at the beginning of the school year.
May 1 – Grade 6 + 7 + 8 Math STAAR, Algebra EOC STAAR.
May 15 – Apex Learning Mathematics 8 Texas and Mathia are due.
May 20 - 24 – Algebra Readiness Assessments. These are HISD Placement Test Readiness Skills # correct out of 16 and HISD Placement Test Readiness Skills # correct out of 24.
May 28 – EOY NWEA MAP Assessment.
May 31 – Students and parents will be notified of student’s placement.
June 19 – Summer Algebra Readiness Camp. This camp is for those being placed in Algebra next school year. More information to come.
Mid June - July – Letter notifying parents of student’s placement for the next school year will be sent out via mail (please make sure to have the most recent address on file).
How does the matrix work for 6th graders? Total 24 points for 6 components.
Component 1: STAAR Interim Assessment: Maximum 3 points. If your scholar gets a
Masters Grade Level: 3 points
Meets Grade Level: 2 points
Approaches Grade Level: 1 point
Did Not Meet Grade Level: 0 points
Component 2: EOY NWEA MAP Assessment: Maximum 4 points. The scales below are based on the MOY Results. Therefore, the matrix score for this component is subject to change based on the EOY Results. If your scholar gets (tentatively)
252+: 4 points
246 - 251: 3 points
241 - 245: 2 points
237 - 240: 1 point
Below 236: 0 points
Component 3: Mathia Workspaces: Maximum 4 points. If your scholar completes
79+ lessons: 4 points
70 - 78 lessons: 3 points
62 - 69 lessons: 2 points
44 - 61 lessons: 1 point
Below 43 lessons: 0 points
Note: If your scholar is a 6th grader taking math 6, they only need to complete Mathia 6. If your scholar is a 6th grader taking math 7, they only need to complete Mathia 7.
Component 4: Apex Mathematics 8 Texas: Maximum 5 points. If your scholar completes
9 - 10 units: 5 points
7 - 8 units: 4 points
5 - 6 units: 3 points
3 - 4 units: 2 points
1 - 2 units: 1 point
0 units: 0 points
Component 5: HISD Placement Test Readiness Skills # correct out of 16: Maximum 4 points. If your scholar gets
13 - 16 questions: 4 points
11 - 12 questions: 3 points
10 questions: 2 points
8 - 9 questions: 1 points
0 - 7 questions: 0 points
Component 6: HISD Placement Test Readiness Skills # correct out of 24: Maximum 4 points. If your scholar gets
20 - 24 questions: 4 points
16 - 19 questions: 3 points
15 questions: 2 points
10 - 14 questions: 1 points
0 - 9 questions: 0 points
On May 31 – Students and parents will be notified of student’s placement. Students with 20+ total points on the matrix will be placed in Algebra class for next school year.
How does the matrix work for 7th graders? Total 24 points for 6 components.
Component 1: STAAR Interim Assessment: Maximum 3 points. If your scholar gets a
Masters Grade Level: 3 points
Meets Grade Level: 2 points
Approaches Grade Level: 1 point
Did Not Meet Grade Level: 0 points
Component 2: EOY NWEA MAP Assessment: Maximum 4 points. The scales below are based on the MOY Results. Therefore, the matrix score for this component is subject to change based on the EOY Results. If your scholar gets (tentatively)
256+: 4 points
250 - 255: 3 points
247 - 249: 2 points
241 - 246: 1 point
Below 240: 0 points
Component 3: Mathia Workspaces: Maximum 4 points. If your scholar completes
79+ lessons: 4 points
70 - 78 lessons: 3 points
62 - 69 lessons: 2 points
44 - 61 lessons: 1 point
Below 43 lessons: 0 points
Component 4: Apex Mathematics 8 Texas: Maximum 5 points. If your scholar completes
9 - 10 units: 5 points
7 - 8 units: 4 points
5 - 6 units: 3 points
3 - 4 units: 2 points
1 - 2 units: 1 point
0 units: 0 points
Component 5: HISD Placement Test Readiness Skills # correct out of 16: Maximum 4 points. If your scholar gets
13 - 16 questions: 4 points
11 - 12 questions: 3 points
10 questions: 2 points
8 - 9 questions: 1 points
0 - 7 questions: 0 points
Component 6: HISD Placement Test Readiness Skills # correct out of 24: Maximum 4 points. If your scholar gets
20 - 24 questions: 4 points
16 - 19 questions: 3 points
15 questions: 2 points
10 - 14 questions: 1 points
0 - 9 questions: 0 points
On May 31 – Students and parents will be notified of student’s placement. Students with 19+ total points on the matrix will be placed in Algebra class for next school year.
Should you have any questions or concerns regarding Algebra placement, please reach out to your scholar's teachers or Ms. Davis: shanda.davis@houstonisd.org, Mr. Le: bao.le@houstonisd.org.
Resources
Khan Academy
Khan Academy is a very good resource for students who would like extra exposure to a topic. It is not aligned to the TEKS, but is broken down into categories by topic for you to learn at your own pace from the beginning to advanced level. It covers all math levels from Pre-K to Calculus and SAT prep. It also covers college-level math courses such that Statistics, Multivariable Calculus, Differential Equations, and Linear Algebra...
So, you are strongly recommended to watch videos and complete assignments at your own pace to help you prepare well for Algebra 1 Placement Assessments at the end of school year. Use your school email to sign up for Khan Academy.
For Algebra students, please follow this link: https://www.khanacademy.org/join/YAYRYFZQ.
For Geometry students, please follow this link: https://www.khanacademy.org/join/WHVUJCPG.
Instructions: After watching all topic-related videos, you should be able to complete all practice questions, exercises, and quizzes correctly at the end. By doing that you advance your level and definitely will have a good start of a new challenging school year.
STAAR 2.0 Links
New question types scoring and reporting guides
Full-length Online Practice Test
Also, if you want your scholar to prepare well for Algebra placement assessments, don't skip these resources.