Math Pathways: the flow of courses
Math Flow of Course
As the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) fully transitions to the new Common Core State Standards (CCSS), there are changes to your child’s mathematics courses and course placement due to the higher bar set by the new standards. Your child’s successful completion of any of the below mathematics pathways will help prepare them to graduate from high school both college prepared and career ready.
Traditional Mathematics Pathway
Starting with the 2014-2015 school year, most students will take Common Core (CC) Math 6, Common Core Math 7, Common Core Math 8, Common Core Algebra 1, Common Core Geometry, and Common Core Algebra 2. Students who successfully complete CC Algebra 2 can be enrolled in higher mathematics courses such as Pre-Calculus, Statistics, etc. Please note that the previous 1997 California Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2 courses no longer exist.
The Regular Mathematics Pathway for grades 6-12 is shown below.
|
Grade Level |
Grade 6 |
Grade 7 |
Grade 8 |
Grade 9 |
Grade 10 |
Grade 11 |
Grade 12 |
|
Regular Pathway |
CC Math 6 |
CC Math 7 |
CC Math 8 |
CC Algebra 1 |
CC Geometry |
CC Algebra 2 |
4th Math Course |
Accelerated Mathematics Pathways
Students who demonstrate advanced skills in mathematics may be eligible for placement into an Accelerated Mathematics Pathway beginning in grade 7, or into an Alternative Accelerated Mathematics Pathway beginning in grade 6. Both of these pathways aim to advance math students who show mathematics conceptual understanding, knowledge of procedural skills, fluency, ability to apply mathematics and who also demonstrate academic work effort in school and at home.
The Alternative Accelerated Mathematics Pathway beginning in grade 6 is intended for the highest achieving students in mathematics. Placement into the Alternative Mathematics Pathway is based on a student’s previous grade 4 and grade 5 marks in mathematics, the results of a mathematics placement assessment administered upon parent request for student placement into the Alternative Accelerated sequence, and on teacher and administrator recommendation.
Students are placed into the Alternative Accelerated Pathway only upon parent approval and upon meeting the placement criteria. The Alternative Accelerated Mathematics Pathway is a highly specialized program, and not all schools offer this pathway. If needed, a student’s school can help parents find other District schools that may provide the pathway.
The Accelerated Mathematics Pathway and the Alternative Accelerated Mathematics Pathway from grade 6 to grade 12 are shown below.
|
Grade Level |
Grade 6 |
Grade 7 |
Grade 8 |
Grade 9 |
Grade 10 |
Grade 11 |
Grade 12 |
|
Accelerated Pathway |
Math 6 |
Accelerated Math 7 |
Accelerated CC Algebra 1 |
CC Geometry |
CC Algebra 2 |
Precalculus |
AP Calculus |
|
Alternative Accelerated Pathway |
Alternative Accelerated math 6/7 |
Alternative Math 8/Algebra 1 |
CC Geometry |
CC Algebra 2 |
Precalculus |
AP Calculus |
4th Math Course |
Students in the accelerated pathways must demonstrate success at the end of each school year in order to continue in that pathway. Compacted accelerated courses are extremely rigorous, and students must also demonstrate continued academic success in these courses throughout the school year as a condition for enrollment in the Accelerated or Alternative Accelerated sequence. If a student earns less than a “B” in the semester course, the child’s placement may be adjusted.