Considerations for Students and Families

Placing a student into the appropriate level within the secondary math sequence is a decision with significant impacts on his or her education. For the majority of students, a standard coursework placement provides both the appropriate level of rigor and level of preparation for post-secondary goals. For some students, there is a need or desire to accelerate. Depending upon how placement decisions are made, and the results of those decisions–as demonstrated by student performance–those impacts can be positive or negative.

Standard Coursework

Standard coursework assumes that students are placed in Math 7 and Math 8 at the middle school.

Math 7 is the standard, on-grade math course. Its content aligns with the Kansas Standards for Mathematics, moves at a traditional pace, and is designed to prepare students for Math 8.

Accelerated Coursework

Accelerated coursework assumes that students are placed into Accelerated Math 7 and Integrated Math 1 or Integrated Math 1 and Integrated Math 2 at the middle school.

Accelerated Math 7 is a faster-paced and condensed sequence of Math 7 and Math 8 concepts. Its content aligns with the Kansas Standards for Mathematics, moves at a faster pace, and combines concepts from Math 7 and Math 8. It is designed to prepare students for Integrated Math 1 in eighth grade.

Integrated Math 1 is a high school math course. Its content aligns with the Kansas Standards for Mathematics, is taught at a level of rigor and content as found in a ninth-grade math course, and prepares students for Integrated Math 2 in the eighth grade.

Kansas Board of Regents Recommendations

The Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) is the governing body that sets entrance requirements and recommendations for the state's public universities. While not required, students are encouraged to complete four years of math, at Level 2 or higher, or complete three years of math with an ACT score of 22, to be considered college and career ready. Students interested in completing the Kansas Scholars Curriculum, which makes available additional scholarship resources, should consider completing four years of math at Level 2 or higher regardless of ACT score.

Washburn Rural High School Graduation Requirements

The Auburn-Washburn Board of Education and the Kansas State Board of Education are the governing bodies that set graduation requirements for Washburn Rural High School. To graduate, students must successfully complete three credits of math at Level 2 or higher. One of those credits may be earned in Grade 8 in a Level 2 or higher course upon successful completion of the subsequent course at Grade 9.