Northshore School District
Secondary Student Math Course Sequence
Incoming 7th graders in the NSD will begin their secondary math experience in one of three pathways: Math Path I,
Math Path II, or Math Path III.
Parents and students may self-select either Math Path I or Math Path II. Math Path III is not self-select. Math Path III
has been developed for EAP students who have completed the 8th grade curriculum and for those students who
successfully complete the double-acceleration math selection process. The additional information about Math Path II
and Math Path III provided on the following page will assist families in making the appropriate decision for their
student.
All NSD students are required to complete three years of high school math to graduate from high school. The
specific courses meeting this graduation requirement depend upon the student’s math path. In addition, College
Admission Standards require students to earn credit in a math-qualitative course during the senior year. In order to
be prepared for college, families need to consider how their math pathway decision impacts the student’s complete
math path through the senior year of high school.
This chart compares the three math paths in the NSD. The text on the following page provides additional details
about each of the pathways to assist in decision-making.
Grade Level
Math Path I
Math Path II
th
Incoming graders enroll in 7 Grade Math or 7th
Challenge Math by a Self-Select Process
7th
7th Grade Math
8th
9th
8th Grade Math
Algebra 1
10th
11th
12th
Required for
High School
Graduation
7th
Geometry
Algebra 2
College
Pre-Calculus
Readiness
Requirement
7th Grade Challenge
Math
Challenge Algebra 1
Challenge Geometry
Algebra 2 or Algebra
2 Trigonometry
Pre-Calculus
Calculus AB
Math Path III
EAP students who
have completed the
eighth grade
curriculum or
double-acceleration
math selection
process
Challenge Algebra 1
Challenge Geometry
Algebra 2 or Algebra
2 Trigonometry
Pre-Calculus
Calculus
AP Statistics
IHS: IB Higher-Level
BHS and WHS:
Calculus BC
For Sixth Grade Parent Information
NSD Secondary Math Course Sequence
Revised 2/26/2014
Math Path II
For this path, students take 7th Grade Challenge Math during their 7th grade year. This is the first course in a twoyear sequence that compresses the 7th, 8th and Algebra 1 Common Core State Standards in Mathematics. The pace
of the class is much faster than the regular 7th or 8th grade curriculum in order to teach all of the standards that
prepare students for the following year’s Challenge Algebra 1 course. The 7th and 8th grade standards build the
foundation for studying high school mathematics. It is important that families consider whether their child is ready for
this more intensive course in 7th grade that prepares students for their high school math experience.
While there is no perfect way to predict if students have the necessary conceptual knowledge, the following
guidelines are provided to help determine whether Math Path II is an appropriate choice for your child. These
recommendations are based on students who have made a successful transition to the 7th Challenge Math course.
Math Path II is recommended for students who:



Have earned at least a 430 on the 5th grade MSP
Scored at least at the 80th percentile on the 6th grade math ITBS
Understand the expectations of a student who enrolls in a Challenge Math course and is willing to work very
hard. Please see the attached “Is Challenge Math right for you? Self-Reflection”
Math Path III
For this path, the student will take a Challenge Algebra course that builds upon the standards taught in the 7th grade
Challenge Math Course. A student on this pathway will take Calculus as their third year of required high school math
credit for graduation. A student on this path is one who is ready for a very rigorous math pathway that provides the
opportunity to take a math course beyond Calculus AB during their senior year.
Math Path III is for:
1) An EAP student who has completed the 8th grade math curriculum.
OR
2) A student who scores in the 98th percentile on the 6th grade math ITBS and meets the district scoring standard on
the Orleans Hanna Algebra Readiness test and the 8th grade math ITBS.
As with Math Path II, it is recommended that a student in the Math Path III understands the expectations of a student
who enrolls in a Challenge Math course and is willing to work very hard. Please see the attached “Is Challenge Math
right for you? Self-Reflection.
For Sixth Grade Parent Information
NSD Secondary Math Course Sequence
Revised 2/26/2014