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Math Program

We are providing you with information about math course options at PUSD. The District’s goal is to have all students choose courses and pathways that are appropriate for their level of math ability, interest, and maturity so they master all of the math standards and can apply them at a deep level. Your student will have a choice of two math pathways, and we would like to assist you in evaluating your options. 

Grade Level Progression

The grade-level progression for current 5th graders is to take Common Core 6 (CC6) in 6th Grade.  The grade-level progression through middle and high school follows:

6th

 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th
CC6 CC7 CC8
Integrated 
Math 1 (IM1)
Integrated 
Math 2 (IM2)
Integrated 
Math 3 (IM3)
Math Analysis
or Math Analysis Honors 
or Statistics

Information about the content and practice standards taught in CC6 Math can be found in this Parent Roadmap, "Supporting Your Child in Grade Six Mathematics" http://bit.ly/6thmathroadmap 

Compression Options

Students who are ready for an additional challenge in math may accelerate through math content by taking a “compressed" series of courses in either middle school or high school. Students entering 6th grade may elect to take the middle school “compression” pathway that moves at a faster pace, covering four years of math over three school years:  

6th

 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th
CC6/7 CC7/8 CC8/M1
Integrated 

 Math 2 (IM2)
Integrated 
Math 3 (IM3)
Math Analysis
or Math Analysis Honors 
or Statistics
AP Calculus AB
or AP Calculus BC
or Statistics or
Honors Stats

Students who choose the compression pathway will complete CC6, CC7, CC8, and IM1 in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade (a 4-in-3 compression).  These students would have the opportunity to take an additional year of math -- either AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, or Statistics -- during their senior year.  Alternatively, students may choose to compress in high school and have the opportunity to reach AP Calculus in high school. 

Students who follow grade-level progression in middle school math (taking CC6, CC7, and CC8) and who are ready for additional challenge in high school may elect to take a compression pathway that covers three years of math over two school years in high school:  

6th

 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th
CC6 CC7 CC8
Integrated 

 Math 1/2A (IM1/2A)
Integrated 

 Math 2B/3 (IM2B/3)
Math Analysis
or Math Analysis Honors 
or Statistics
AP Calculus AB
or AP Calculus BC
or Statistics or
Honors Stats

Students who choose the high school compression pathway will complete IM1, IM2 and IM3 in 9th and 10th grade (a 3-in-2 compression).  Students who compress in high school have the same opportunity as those who compress in middle school to take an additional year of math--either AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, or Statistics--during their senior year.

What is the Right Choice for My Student?

It is essential to understand that compression is not for everyone.  Not all students will feel successful in the faster-paced compression classes, which cover more material in class, require more homework, and include more frequent assessments.  Also, students not ready or interested in the compression pathway in middle school will have a similar opportunity for math compression in high school.

Compression is Not for Everyone

Compression is the new way to accelerate. It is unlike the pre-Common Core Standard model of skipping 6th grade math, which was made possible by redundancies and overlap in curriculum standards among 5th, 6th, and 7th grade math concepts.  Not all students will be successful in these faster-paced compression classes, which will cover more material in class and include more homework and more frequent assessments. In general, the volume of homework will be approximately 33% more than the CC-6 class.  The frequency of tests will be approximately 33% more than the CC-6 class.

Echoing the advice of many math experts, the District recommends that parents carefully consider whether and when their students should choose a compression pathway.  As noted above, compression is appropriate for some but not all.  Compression may be too much for a student in 6th grade but appropriate for that same student in 9th grade, and both the middle school and high school compression pathways offer the same opportunity to take either AP Calculus AB or AP Calculus BC in high school.

When in Doubt, Delay

Common Core Math emphasizes depth of knowledge and mastery of math practice standards, and math experts caution against a rush to high school calculus at the expense of foundational math concepts.  For more information, please see Cheryl Holzmeyer, Ph.D.’s report to PUSD about the rush to high school Calculus: https://tinyurl.com/pusdmathpathways 

For these reasons, if there is any doubt about the right choice for your student, the District recommends the grade-level pathway rather than compression.