There are two math pathways available: Math 6 and Accelerated Math 6. Accelerated Math is a two-year course that covers three years of curriculum at a faster pace.
To be recommended for Accelerated Math, students must meet both of the following criteria:
Score at or above grade level on their winter iReady assessment
Earn mostly 4s on their math progress reports (indicating they are exceeding grade-level expectations)
It’s also important to note that being GATE identified does not automatically place a student in Accelerated Math. Placement decisions are based on the criteria above.
From my experience, the middle school works hard to place students where they will be most successful. If a student is not in the right placement, there is flexibility to make adjustments. It’s also worth considering that Accelerated Math moves at a significantly faster pace. Students will complete about 1.5 years of curriculum in 6th grade, another 1.5 years in 7th grade, and take Advanced Integrated Math 1 (AIM 1), which is a high school credit course and a graduation requirement.
ADVANCED INTEGRATED MATH I
Year Course, 4165, 4166
In Advanced Integrated Math I, areas of focus will include: Number and Quantity Analysis, Algebra, Functions, Geometry, Statistics and Probability, Matrix and Vector analysis. Students will: (1) Create equations to describe situations; (2) Build on previous work with solving linear equations and systems of linear equations using more formal solution methods, attending to the structure of linear expressions and solving linear inequalities; (3) Formalize understanding of the definition of a function, particularly understanding of linear functions, emphasizing the structure of linear expressions; (4) Begin work with exponential functions, comparing and contrasting them to linear functions; (5) Work with congruence and similarity transformations. Consider sufficient conditions for congruence of triangles and prove triangle congruence; (6) Work with bivariate data and scatterplots extending to determining lines of best fit, including tests for linearity; (7) Determine magnitude and direction of vectors; (8) Perform operations on matrices and use matrices in applications. Students will earn high school credit with a passing grade in this course.
If you have specific questions about placement, I recommend reaching out to your child’s middle school counselor, as they are best equipped to support you.