Math Path II

For a small number of exceptional math students, a more intensely compacted and even more rigorous math curriculum may be appropriate. Students should expect that they will have to work harder than they have previously and that their grades may not be as high as they would like them to be. In Math Path II, the third year of required high school mathematics will be Calculus of IB Math Methods 3.

Families interested in the Math Path II must consider:

• Students should have earned at least a 4 on the 4th grade WASL and at least a 98 on the Stanford. (Stanford scores are available on Family Access.)
• Students in Math Path II are intrinsically interested in mathematics and enjoy devoting the time and energy necessary to study math. They have excellent study habits, consistently high motivation, and perseverance. Your student is comfortable working outside his/her academic comfort zone.
• While there is no perfect way to predict if students have the necessary requisite math knowledge and ability to apply that knowledge, we are providing an online assessment tool that may help determine if your incoming sixth grader is ready for this intense and rigorous path.
  
  To complete the assessment:
   
• Open the assessment tool.
• Have your student complete the assessment on his/her own. Some of the problems allow a calculator and some do not. Be sure to carefully follow the directions for calculator use.
• Use the information on the assessment tool site to help you determine if your student has command of the math concepts, knowledge, and applications to be successful in Math Path II. Middle school math teachers recommend that students score at least 85% on the assessment.

By choosing to place your student in Math Path II, you confirm that he/she has the necessary math skills and study habits for success and you understand that lower mathematics grades are possible.

Once a student in placed in a math class, he/she will remain in that class as long as he/she is passing, i.e., maintaining at least a D. Students who are passing the class— even at a C and D level— will not change math pathways during the school year.

Please note: Students must earn at least a C- in any given high school math class to move on to the next course in the sequence. Extra help will be available in after-school math labs.

Questions?   Call Math Curriculum Specialist Leslie Nielsen at (425) 837-7051 or e-mail her at nielsenl@issaquah.wednet.edu.