Mathematics 

Honors Level courses are designed for gifted and highly motivated students who have demonstrated high achievement and the ability to handle an accelerated pace. Student work requires thoughtful analysis and attention to detail leading to synthesis of new ideas and prior learning. Diversified strategies and skills to solve complex, challenging problems, and the ability and desire to think, reason, work independently and in teams, and communicate mathematically on an abstract and symbolic level will be expected of all students. Nightly homework may include previewing new material, applying and extending concepts discussed in class, researching various aspects of mathematics, and completing team projects. This sequence leads to the study of Calculus or Statistics at the Advanced Placement level in the senior year. Students should have a teacher recommendation based on superior achievement in a previous mathematics course.

ACP Level courses are a demanding part of the advanced college preparatory program. The pace is rigorous and a great deal of outside preparation is expected. Students must demonstrate effective mathematical skills or be sufficiently motivated and determined to acquire these skills. The ability to think, reason, and communicate mathematically is required. Consolidation and application of math concepts are developed both independently and with the guidance of the teacher. Written and oral work must exhibit proficiency in a multi-faceted approach to solving problems. Nightly homework may involve applying and extending concepts discussed in class; previewing new material; and, at times, carrying out independent projects. This sequence leads to an introduction to college mathematics in the senior year. Students should have a teacher recommendation based on solid success in a previous mathematics course.

CP Level is a college preparatory program for students who need substantial structure and a focus on skill development. Material is presented at a deliberate pace in both abstract and experiential formats. The goal of these courses is to enable students to be confident learners who are solidly based in the fundamentals of mathematics. Those fundamentals must include the ability to think, reason and communicate effectively about mathematics. There is a continual emphasis on applying problem solving skills to real life situations. There is considerable variety in approaches to the course work. Nightly homework may involve applying and extending concepts discussed in class; previewing new material; and, at times, carrying out independent projects. Students generally require additional help and practice in understanding and learning new materials. This sequence leads to an integrated Personal Finance course senior year. Students should have a recommendation from the teacher of their previous math course.

Math Trajectories

The Math Trajectories graphic provides a visual representation of the Grades 6-12 mathematics sequence. It highlights the typical mathematics course progressions rather than every possible pathway a student may take. Courses approved for Competency Determination are shaded gray.

At WHS, teacher recommendations influence initial course placement. Students and their families may elect to change the course for which the student was recommended. With prior approval from the WHS Department Head, WHS students may also have the opportunity to take courses outside of WHS to meet their needs.

Text Description of Math Trajectories Grades 6-12 Image:

The image is a graphic that shows both the typical trajectories of Mathematics courses students will complete between Grade 6 and Grade 12 and some possible trajectory adjustments.  The graphic also shows certain courses shaded gray representing approved Competency Determination (CD) Courses as voted by the WPS School Committee on March 18, 2025.

Many of the mathematics course titles contain abbreviations related to their level. The abbreviations are:
H for Honors
ACP for Advanced College Prep
CP for College Prep
AP for Advanced Placement

Pink Typical Trajectory

The first typical trajectory shown in pink on the graphic projects that students completing Math 6 in Grade 6, will complete Math 7 in Grade 7, Algebra 8R in Grade 8, Geometry H in Grade 9, Algebra 2H in Grade 10, PreCalculus H in Grade 11, and typically chose to complete one of the following courses in Grade 12: AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, Calculus H, or AP Statistics.  The pink trajectory highlights 3 trajectory adjustments shown with green dotted lines in which students would take Geometry ACP in 9th Grade instead of Geometry H, another in which students would take Algebra 2 ACP in 10th Grade instead of Algebra 2H, and a third possible trajectory adjustment in which students may take PreCalculus ACP in 11th Grade instead of PreCalculus Honors. 

The courses in the pink trajectory that are highlighted gray, meaning they fulfill the Competency Determination requirements are: Algebra 8R, Geometry H, and Algebra 2 H.

Green Typical Trajectory

The second typical trajectory shown in green on the graphic projects that students completing Math 6 in Grade 6, will complete Math 7 in Grade 7, Algebra 8 in Grade 8, Geometry ACP in Grade 9, and Algebra 2 ACP in Grade 10. In Grade 11 students typically chose between completing PreCalculus ACP or Analysis ACP.  The students who complete PreCalculus ACP in Grade 11 will typically complete one of the following courses in Grade 12: Calculus H, AP Statistics or Fundamentals of Calculus and Statistics ACP. Those students who opted to complete Analysis ACP in Grade 11 typically chose to complete one of the following courses in Grade 12: AP Statistics, PreCalculus H, or Applied Math Modeling (shown with a solid yellow line).   The green trajectory highlights one possible trajectory adjustment with a dotted pink line in which students take Geometry H in Grade 9 instead of Geometry ACP.  There are 3 possible trajectory adjustments shown with a dotted yellow line in which students take Math 72 in Grade 7 instead of Math 7, Concepts in Algebra in Grade 8 instead of Algebra 8, or Algebra 1 ACP in Grade 9 instead of Geometry ACP.

The courses in the green trajectory that are highlighted gray, meaning they fulfill the Competency Determination requirements are: Algebra 8, Geometry ACP, and Algebra 2 ACP.

Yellow Typical Trajectory

The third typical trajectory shown in yellow on the graphic projects that students completing Math 62 in Grade 6, will complete Math 72 in Grade 7, Concepts in Algebra in Grade 8, Algebra 1 ACP in Grade 9 (shown with a dotted yellow line), Geometry ACP in Grade 10, Algebra 2 ACP in Grade 11 and typically chose one of the following classes in Grade 12: PreCalculus ACP, Analysis ACP or Applied Math Modeling. 

The courses in the yellow trajectory that are highlighted gray, meaning they fulfill the Competency Determination requirements are: Algebra 1 ACP and Geometry ACP. 

Orange Typical Trajectory

The fourth typical trajectory shown in orange on the graphic projects that students completing Math 62 in Grade 6, will complete Math 72 in Grade 7, Concepts in Algebra in Grade 8, Algebra 1 CP in Grade 9, Geometry CP in Grade 10, Algebra 1 CP in Grade 11 and Intro to Statistics and Personal Finance in Grade 12.  There is one possible trajectory adjustment shown with a dotted blue line in which students take Math 82 in Grade 8 instead of Concepts in Algebra.  There is also one possible trajectory adjustment show with a dotted yellow line in which students take Applied Math Modeling in Grade 12 instead of Intro to Statistics and Personal Finance.

The courses in the orange trajectory that are highlighted gray, meaning they fulfill the Competency Determination requirements are: Algebra 1 CP and Geometry CP. 

Blue Typical Trajectory

The fifth typical trajectory shown in blue on the graphic projects that students completing Math 62 in Grade 6, will complete Math 72 in Grade 7, Math 82 in Grade 8, Foundations 9 in Grade 9, Foundations 9/10 in Grade 10, Algebra 2 CP in Grade 11 and typically chose one of the following courses in Grade 12: Algebra 2 CP, or Intro to Statistics and Personal Finance.  There is 1 possible trajectory adjustment shown with a dotted orange line in which students take Algebra 1 in Grade 9 instead of Foundations 9. 

The courses in the blue trajectory that are highlighted gray, meaning they fulfill the Competency Determination requirements are: Foundations 9, Foundations 9/10 and Algebra 2 CP.  

ISS or Skills Program Students in Grades 6-8 typically continue on to the Skills or Cornerstones programs for Grades 9-12 with individually determined programs.  There are 3 possible trajectory adjustments shown with blue dotted lines in which students may take Math 62 in Grade 6, Math 72 in Grade 7, or Math82 in Grade 8 instead of the individually determined program in the ISS or Skills Program.

Purple Typical Trajectory - Placement Process Only

There is a trajectory shown in purple at the bottom of the graphic with the heading “Placement Process Only”  in which students complete Math 7 in Grade 6, Algebra 8R in Grade 7, Geometry  H in Grade 8, Algebra 2 H in Grade 9, PreCalculus H in Grade 10, AP Calculus AB or AP Calculus BC in Grade 11 and AP Statistics in Grade 12.

The courses in the purple trajectory that are highlighted gray, meaning they fulfill the Competency Determination requirements are: Algebra 8R, Geometry H, and Algebra 2 H.