MATHEMATICS

PRINCIPLES/ESSENTIAL COLLEGE PREP STUDENT  

• Student needs assistance in developing successful study skills in one or more of the following areas: note-taking skills, class preparation, completing written assignments, and organizational skills.  

• Student needs assistance understanding and communicating the mathematical ideas presented in each lesson.  

• Student may need assistance in displaying work in an organized manner.  

• Student employs appropriate problem solving strategies with support. 

COLLEGE PREP B STUDENT  

• Student is often prepared for class; preparation includes bringing book, notebook, pencil and calculator to class each day.  

• Student will develop successful study skills in one or more of the following areas: note taking skills, class preparation, completing written assignments, and organizational skills.  

• Student completes all written assignments (attempts every problem, checking answers and marks problems not understood).  

• Student may require support to understand and communicate some of the mathematical ideas presented in each lesson.  Student is able to manage daily homework assignments. 

COLLEGE PREP A STUDENT  

• Student is prepared for class. Preparation includes bringing book, notebook, pencil and calculator to class each day.  

• Student is able to understand the mathematical concepts presented in each lesson and may occasionally need to stay after school for clarification.  

• Student completes all written assignments (attempts every problem, checking answers and marks problems not understood).  

• Student displays work in an organized manner showing adequate understanding of material.  

• Student is actively engaged in the learning process.  Student is able to manage daily homework assignments.  

• Student is willing and able to seek out extra help when needed.  

• Student can recognize and employ the most appropriate strategy to solve problems.  Students are able to use technology to access, evaluate, and effectively apply information. 

HONORS STUDENT  

• Student is well prepared for class. Preparation includes bringing book, notebook, pencil and calculator to class each day as well as having completed the written assignments.  

• Student thoroughly completes all assignments in an organized manner with attention to accuracy and proper use of mathematical language.  

• Student completes all assignments and presents them in a neat, organized manner showing a good understanding of the material.  

• Student is actively engaged in the learning process.  Student expresses a strong desire to learn and understand mathematics.  

• Student is willing and able to seek out extra help when needed.  

• Student is an independent test-taker who plans and uses time wisely. 

• Student accepts responsibility for managing a rigorous workload.  

• Student is able to make connections between abstract mathematical concepts and concrete applications.  

• Student can recognize and employ the most appropriate strategy to solve problems.  

• Students are able to use technology to access, evaluate, and effectively apply information. 

Students will focus on concepts in algebra as they explore and solve a wide variety of math problems using both

technology and hands-on materials. Particular emphasis will be placed on linear and exponential functions.

Students will learn to recognize each family of functions by utilizing equations, tables and graphs. In this course,

students will continue to develop critical thinking skills, work cooperatively in groups, and learn to clearly

communicate mathematical ideas. This discovery approach is designed to help the student who struggles with

abstract mathematical concepts. This course addresses the essentials of the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks

and will prepare you for two-year colleges, technical training, military service and/or the work force.

Open to Grade: 9

By recommendation only 

In this course, students will be introduced to the algebraic concepts and skills that focus on linear, quadratic, and exponential functions. Students will learn how to represent these functions verbally, numerically, graphically and analytically. The graphing calculator will be used to demonstrate visually how functions relate to equations and graphs, and also how functions can be used to model discrete data. Problem-solving strategies will be addressed throughout the course. Real-life applications will also be presented throughout the course in order to show the usefulness of mathematics in the real world. This course is designed for the student who is proficient in basic mathematical skills and concepts, or has had some previous success with algebraic concepts and skills in grade eight. This course is also fully aligned to the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. 

Open to Grades: 9, 10 

In this course, students will be introduced to algebraic concepts organized around families of functions. Particular emphasis will be placed on linear, quadratic, and exponential functions.  Students will learn to represent each family of functions by utilizing verbal descriptions, equations, tables and graphs. Problem-solving strategies will be addressed throughout the course as students use functions to model real-world situations. Students will develop critical thinking skills, learn to work cooperatively, and learn to clearly communicate mathematical ideas. This course is fully aligned to the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks and contains an in-depth review of the mathematical topics addressed in the state assessment. 

Open to Grades: 9, 10 

Similar in content to Geometry Honors, this course places less emphasis upon theory and more emphasis upon integrating and relating geometric concepts to algebra, statistics, data analysis, probability, and discrete mathematics. Students will explore geometric situations, develop conjectures, and ultimately prove their conjectures using a variety of methods. Realistic and relevant applications will be offered throughout this course. Topics to be studied include triangle congruence, similarity of triangles based on dilations and proportional reasoning, circumference, area, volume, Pythagorean Theorem applications, and probability. This course is fully aligned to the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. 

Open to Grades: 9, 10, 11 

Prerequisite: Entering 9th graders must have passed Math 8 Accelerated (Grade 8 Algebra 1) with at least an 85 average, or successful completion of Algebra 1 CPA with at least a 70 average 

This course is primarily intended for those students who have achieved mastery of the skills and concepts of an Honors Algebra I course and can demonstrate a thorough grasp of mathematical practice and theory. Students will explore the nature of reasoning in which models found in a geometric setting are used to examine different types of thinking processes. Attention will be given to those concepts and properties, which relate to three-dimensional objects. Topics from coordinate geometry and transformational geometry will also be studied. The connection between geometry and the real world will be reinforced through mathematical applications. This course will offer you a rigorous, in-depth approach to the study of geometry and will establish important skills and understandings extensively used in later advanced mathematics courses. This course is fully aligned to the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. 

Open to Grades: 9, 10 

Prerequisite: Entering 9th graders must have passed Math 8 Accelerated (Grade 8 Algebra 1) with at least an 88 average. Entering 10th graders must have passed Algebra 1 Honors with at least an 80 average or teacher recommendation.

Introduction to Engineering 1 is a math-based, hands-on engineering course designed for high school students who would like to explore the various fields of engineering. This course follows Engineering the Future, a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) curriculum created by the Boston Museum of Science. It focuses on the fundamentals of engineering and applies the math and science you are learning in your classrooms to modern real-world problems that involve civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering. It integrates engineering, mathematics, science and technology and prepares you for life in the information age. 

Open to Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12 

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Algebra 1 (CPA or Honors).  

This course is an introductory computer science course that inspires students to utilize creativity, problem-solving, and communication skills as a framework for design challenges and programming assignments. You will learn how to program websites, animations, games, and even music using HTML, CSS and JavaScript. Starting with simple shapes, students will progress to more sophisticated sprite-based games and animations. Using music technology, students will write their own computer code to create and remix music that is unique, design new sounds, effects, and musical structures. Students will also learn how to use the computer as a tool for developing software applications. A wide variety of practical problems will be explored in a highly interactive and collaborative computer lab setting. Previous programming is not required to take this course. 

Open to Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12  

Do you like puzzles or logic thinking? In this course students will explore problems from a variety of branches of

mathematics and learn the process of how to unlock the solutions, how to use pattern recognition to solve problems

and learn how to think outside the box. Students will learn about logic, modular arithmetic, non-Euclidean

Geometry (such as taxi-cab geometry), sets, and combinatorics. Students will work individually and in small group

settings on both classic and interactive math puzzles and problems. If you enjoy mathematics, then this course may

be just what you are looking for.

Open to Grades: 9, 10, 11

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Algebra 1 Honors, Algebra 1 CPA with at least an 85 average or

concurrent enrollment in Geometry Honors.