Middle School Math

Mathematics not only facilitates logical thinking but is also used to describe and analyze our world. Our middle school math classes teach students to value mathematics as a discipline unto itself, to make connections between mathematics and other disciplines, and to examine the applications of mathematics in our world. We balance the development of formal mathematical algorithms with critical reasoning and investigating mathematical ideas. Through practice, students become proficient with their formal skills and develop strategies for thinking critically. 
Our middle school offers multiple, flexible math pathways including standard, accelerated, and advanced options. Our offerings meet simultaneous needs for our student population that comes from a wide range of educational experiences. Our curriculum ensures that it is appropriately articulated from elementary math and rigorous enough to support high school math coursework. The difference between the classes lies in the rigor of the problems and the time spent introducing concepts. Placement decisions are based on achievement in prior math classes, teacher recommendations, and diagnostic skills tests.

Our standard classes are designed for students working at grade-level. We focus deeply on the major focus areas of grade-level standards so that students can gain strong mathematical foundations in their fluency, conceptual and procedural understandings. We continue to reinforce the ability to apply the math they know to solve problems inside and outside the classroom. 

We also offer accelerated and advanced courses for select students who consistently perform above grade-level in math and express motivation to learn at this level. To be considered for these classes, students must demonstrate the following: mastery of concepts from previous courses, strong procedural and problem-solving skills, high level of computational fluency, and the ability to grasp complex material quickly. Students considered for accelerated or advanced placement must take an assessment to demonstrate readiness as well as provide prior teacher recommendations.

Once students are placed into their math class, they take a beginning-of-year diagnostic assessment to ensure appropriate placement, in addition to identifying strengths and potential skill gaps. Students who struggle with grade-level math skills may qualify for targeted math intervention, the goal of which is to help close learning gaps, build math skills, and increase self-confidence.