Did you know that registration for the Middle School 2017-18
school year will begin in October 2016? Students who will be in 6th grade in the fall of 2016 will need to choose their Middle School math path only a month or so after school starts!
It
is important to be aware that accelerated math pathways begin in 7th grade. Save
Our Challenge has created the graphic below to help inform students and their
parents of the three math pathways currently available in the Northshore School
District -- Standard (Math Path I), Single Jump/Challenge (Math Path II) and
Double Jump/AAP (Math Path III).
Currently, students can enter Math Path II in 7th grade by
self-selecting Challenge Math 7/8 when they register in 6th grade, or Math Path III by testing in and taking the Algebra Readiness Assessment. If a student
misses the opportunity to begin Math Path II or III in 7th grade, he or she can
accelerate to the next math path by taking a paid math course over the summer through an accredited vendor. These paid courses can cost hundreds of dollars and may not work with your summer schedule.
Many colleges prefer that students who are interested in
pursuing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) courses have at least
one year of calculus in High School. Calculus is available to students who
select Math Path II or Math Path III only. Math Path II and III
open the door to many high school STEM classes that have math prerequisites or dependencies.
Additionally, the new SAT test incorporates pre-calculus questions. Students usually take the SAT in their junior year of high school. If a student hasn't taken Math Path II or Math Path III they will not get the pre-calculus instruction they need in time to answer these SAT questions.
Even if your child is not interested in
STEM, Save Our Challenge believes that most students benefit from Algebra I by 8th grade. It is a key indicator of future academic success. Students who score 3 or 4 in Math on the SBAC test should be encouraged
to self-select Challenge Math 7/8.
In the words of NSD's incoming superintendent, Dr. Michelle
Reid:
"You look at research...one of the indicators is that...if you...successfully complete Algebra in 8th grade you are twice as likely to go on to post-secondary education."
"If we don't start Algebra in 8th grade, we can't get to AP Calculus AB by Senior year. And, if you don't offer intensified [NOTE: intensified is the same as our double jump Math Path III] by 7th grade then you can't get to AP calculus BC before you graduate. That becomes an organizational barrier to success and we can't have that. That's...a moral imperative."
The graphics below show the math paths for both the IB (International Baccalaureate) program and the AP/CHS (Advanced Placement/College in the High School) programs. Since these math paths were slightly different, we have depicted them in separate graphics. Additionally, other math, STEM and science classes with math dependencies are also listed on one of the graphics with the 2016/2017 course catalog prerequisite wording.
If you would like to download the PDF version of these graphics, see below.
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