Mathematics

Foundations of Mathematical Practices 

Year-long/ Required  

Our Foundations of Mathematical Practices course for fifth grade students features a differentiated instructional approach that supports and challenges all students. Before starting each unit of study, students complete a pre-assessment to identify areas where they have already mastered the content and areas that require further development. Our coursework is carefully designed to provide extensive exposure to real number operations and a strong foundation in practical problem-solving techniques. Using a hands-on, problem-solving approach, students gain both conceptual understanding and operational fluency in key topics such as fractions, decimals, and percentages, as well as the application of order of operations to write and execute solutions to complex problems. This course upholds high expectations for all and can be challenging for students who previously had less access to rigorous mathematical content and practices; these students are advised to seek additional support during tutorial sessions to ensure they are well-prepared to engage with the curriculum and collaborate effectively with their peers. The Foundations of Mathematical Practices course empowers students to become confident, reflective learners who are well-prepared to excel in math and beyond.

Prerequisite: None 
Grade level: 5 
Credit earned: 1.0 MS Mathematics 

Beyond Numeracy 

Year-long/ Required in 6^th Grade or Students may accelerate from Beyond Numeracy in 6th grade to Algebra 1 in 7th grade by consistently engaging in enrichment activities and demonstrating proficiency with algebra readiness skills.

Our Beyond Numeracy course for sixth grade students features a differentiated instructional approach designed to challenge and engage students at every level. Prior to beginning each unit of study, students complete a pre-assessment that helps us identify which topics they have already mastered and which areas require additional support. This course builds on students' prior knowledge of geometry and introduces new topics that will expand their understanding and problem-solving skills. Students will extend their understanding of areas of rectangles to reason about areas of parallelograms and triangles. They will also learn how to calculate surface areas using these geometric shapes. In addition to geometry, students engage with ratios through a formal, scaffolded introduction. They will learn several ways to represent ratios, including using double number lines, tables, as well as tape and hanger diagrams. These skills will enable them to convert units, calculate unit rates, and solve problems involving percentages. In addition, students will have the opportunity to apply mathematical concepts such as operations with decimals to real-life scenarios through inquiry-based activities that focus on problem-solving and critical thinking. This content-packed course also features data analysis, including measures of center and spread, to help students make sense of complex information. Students are introduced to exponents and learn to reason about equivalent equations. They develop their understanding of negative numbers on the number line and the coordinate plane. This course upholds high expectations for all and can be challenging for students who previously had less access to rigorous mathematical content and practices; these students are advised to seek additional support during tutorial sessions to ensure they are well-prepared to engage with the curriculum and collaborate effectively with their peers. Our Beyond Numeracy course is designed to foster a love of learning and a deep understanding of mathematical concepts that will stay with students for years to come.

Prerequisite: 5th Grade Math 
Grade level: Required for 6th Grade 
Credit earned: 1.0 MS Mathematics 

 

The focus of study is on the manipulation of algebraic expressions, equations, and inequalities together with the application of these skills to problem solving. By the end of the course, students will be able to factor polynomials, graph linear equations, solve systems of linear equations, understand functions, use rational and irrational numbers, solve and graph quadratic equations, and use exponential functions. Students will be enrolled in Algebra I during mods 1-3 and Geometry during mods 4-6 so they have the opportunity to take Calculus I their senior year.

 

Geometry introduces students to the logic of mathematics and the development of formal and informal proofs. Students will study topics in Euclidean Geometry including points, lines, angles, polygons, circles, congruence, similarity, area, volume, and right-triangle trigonometry. This course incorporates the use of coordinate geometry and algebra throughout.

Prerequisites: Performance on placement test, average of A- in Algebra I and Geometry,

and department recommendation

 

The focus of study in Precalculus is advanced applications and techniques for solving and analyzing functions. Students will master solving, analyzing and graphing functions including polynomial, rational, logarithmic, exponential, and conic sections functions. They will also explore sequences, series, vectors, and probability.

 

Accelerated Precalculus covers the same topics as Precalculus but takes place over two bins instead of three.

 

The focus of Mathematical Analysis is preparation for the study of Calculus. Topics include application of trigonometry, vectors, parametric equations, polar equations, and conic sections.

The focus of Calculus I is on deepening critical thinking through application in calculus. Course topics include in-depth analysis of and applications of limits, differential and integral calculus. This course prepares students for Calculus II.

 

In Statistics, students will learn tools for collecting, analyzing, and drawing conclusions from data. Students are introduced to four broad conceptual themes – exploring data, planning a study, anticipating patterns in advance and statistical inferences.