Math

The Traditional College & Career sequence of math classes teaches a full year of Colorado Academic Standards in a year’s time. These classes (in blue on the Pathways visual) are designed to be challenging, engaging, relevant and to build a strong foundation of concepts that will set students up for success as they transition into middle and high school. Teachers are trained to differentiate instruction, meaning they plan intentionally to extend and reteach concepts to meet the specific needs of students. This Pathway will meet the unique needs of the majority of  students and will allow students to take higher level math courses in high school including but not limited to AP Precalculus and AP Statistics. 

Teachers use a body of quantitative and observational data to identify where your child may have misconceptions and need additional support and reteaching of concepts. Students are also supported through a Multi Tiered System of Support (MTSS) which is a K-12 team driven process that designs an intervention specific to your child’s needs.

In middle school, additional math support classes are available for students who need them. This support class is in addition to a core math class so that students are continuing to be exposed to new learning while also working to address unfinished learning from prior years. 

In high school, students are able to align the math classes they choose to their post graduation goals and interests. Mathematics graduation requirements can be met in multiple ways, and courses with a higher level of support are available. Please partner with your child’s math teacher if you have concerns. 

For students who have a strong interest in Math and are consistently mastering grade level skills, a compacted course may fit their needs as it will provide a greater level of challenge. In a compacted class, concepts from multiple grade levels are taught more quickly in one year of school. The compacted courses in BVSD allow students to access high school content while still in middle school which then provides access to more math classes overall as they progress through high school. 

There are multiple entry points within the K-8 pathways to take a compacted course, and there are also built in “off ramps” if a student tries a compacted course and finds that the traditional path better meets their needs. The dotted lines on the Pathways Map indicate an “off ramp”. 

The decision to enroll in a compacted course is made at the end of 3rd grade, 5th grade and 6th grade for the following school year. Using a variety of information, teachers partner with families and the students in the second semester  to consider if a compacted pathway might meet your child’s needs. 

Yes, in some cases. The primary goal of the BVSD Mathematics Pathways is to provide each student access to the math course that best meets their needs. Using multiple learning environments allows us to meet this goal for students. Whether a course is offered virtually during the school year depends on a multitude of factors including but not limited to the number of students needing a course and the number of teachers allocated to a school. Virtual courses are facilitated through Boulder Universal, and the BU teachers work hand in hand with the home school and with families to ensure meaningful engaging instruction is in place. 

On a traditional pathway, students will typically take Algebra 1 in 9th grade and have the opportunity to take rigorous high level math courses aligned to their interests and post graduation goals. The only perceived limitation would be that students would not be able to take Calculus in high school unless they doubled up and took two math classes one year in high school. 

Since the late 1950’s, Calculus has been seen as an advantageous course for students interested in attending a competitive 4 year college. This perception is changing nationwide as the job market modernizes. Colleges and high schools are reflecting this change in that courses such as Statistics, Computer Programming, Quantitative Literacy and Data Science are becoming increasingly relevant and valued in higher education and in the workforce. 

While Calculus can enhance a student’s college application, alternate rigorous courses will as well. Colorado’s Higher Education Admissions Recommendations (HEAR) suggest 4 years of Math including Algebra, Geometry and Algebra 2. If a student is interested in pursuing a degree in subjects such as Physics, Engineering or Math, Calculus can be important, but it is definitely not required in order to enter a STEM field in college. Ultimately, BVSD encourages students to enroll in classes that match their interests and goals.