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Math Placement

Many things influence a student’s course taking sequence over their junior high and high school career. In the Santa Barbara Unified School District we strive to provide students with relevant coursework that meets their post-secondary aspirations with various course series we offer. To fulfill the a – g college entrance requirements for math, students must pass Math l, Math ll and Math lll with a grade of ‘C’ or better.

Students that aspire to take calculus while in high school will need to choose a compaction course block in either junior high or high school. This chart below shows a draft of pathways for secondary CCSS mathematics courses in SBUSD. Note that students, upon advisement from their counselor, may move from one pathway to another.

View the 2023-2024 Math Pathways
View the Course Catalog

SECONDARY MATH COURSE DESCRIPTORS AND PLACEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS

GRADE LEVEL OPTION

Placement Recommendation:

  • Grade report from previous teacher.
  • CAASP result from previous year indicates Standards Met, and Standards Nearly Met.
  • CAASP result from current year indicates Standards Met, and Standards Nearly Met.

MATH 7, 8, I, II, III

All students in this series of courses are exposed to high-quality mathematics program designed to prepare them to graduate from high school ready for college, a career, and civic life. The California Common Core Math Standards resemble the standards of the highest-achieving nations and reflect the importance of focus, coherence, and rigor. The standards stress conceptual understanding, procedural skill and fluency, and application to ensure students are learning and absorbing the critical information they need to succeed at higher levels and can apply their learning in increasingly complex situations.

ENRICHMENT

Placement Recommendation:

  • Grade report from previous teacher.
  • CAASP result from previous year indicates Standard Met, and Standards Exceed.
  • CAASP result from current year indicates Standards Met, and Standards Exceed.

MATH 7,8,I,II

In grades 7 through 10, there are Math 7, Math 8 and Integrated Math I, Math II “Plus Enrichment” courses designed for students who demonstrate evidence of handling the content, depth of knowledge and rigor beyond the Common Core Math Standards of Math 7, Math 8, Integrated Math I or Integrated Math II.

Plus Enrichment focuses on the same Common Core State Standards content standards of the respective grade level, and includes additional topics and assignments (e.g., projects) that allow students the opportunity to connect their learning to other disciplines. These “enrichment opportunities should allow students to increase their depth of understanding by developing expertise in the modeling process and applying mathematics to novel and complex contexts.” (Massachusetts 2012).

These courses are recommended for students who prefer depth, complexity, and novelty. Students must possess above average mathematical computational skills with a strong conceptual understanding of mathematics.

COMPACTION

Placement Recommendation:

  • Grade report from previous teacher.
  • CAASP result from previous year indicates Standard Met, and Standards Exceed.
  • CAASP result from current year indicates Standards Met, and Standards Exceed.

MATH 7/8/I COMPACTION

MATH II,III, PRE CALCULUS COMPACTION

In grades 7 and 8, there is a “compaction” (three courses in two years) option for students who demonstrate evidence of handling the content, depth of knowledge, and rigor beyond the Common Core Math Standards of Math 7, Math 8 and Integrated Math I.

In grades 10 and 11, there is a “Compaction” (three courses in two years) option for students who demonstrate the ability to handle the acceleration required to complete Integrated Math II, Integrated Math III and Pre Calculus in two school years.

This is recommended for students who prefer acceleration over depth, complexity, and novelty. Students must possess above average mathematical computational skills with a strong conceptual understanding of grade level mathematics.

SUPPORT

Placement Recommendation:

  • Grade report from previous teacher.
  • CAASP result from previous year indicates Standards Not Met.
  • CAASP result from current year indicates Standards Not Met.

MATH 7, 8, I

Students who demonstrate a need for additional time to meet the grade level proficiencies will be enrolled in a second math support class, in addition to their grade level math course. The purpose of this course is to preview and review content that will be in their math course. Additionally, teachers will work with students to assess the learning gaps students have and fill those learning needs that are pertinent to students’ successful math development.

In keeping with the spirit of the California Mathematics Placement Act of 2015 (SB359), adequate time will be provided for student / parent/ guardians to contest any placement. For more information on SB359, visit leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/

If a student fails Math 1, they should take Math l/learning recovery in summer school in order to move on to Math II. If they do not take summer school or fail summer school, they repeat Math I. The same is true for Math ll.

College a – g requirements are Math I, Math ll and Math lll. Colleges recommend four years of high school math, including math in the senior year. A fourth year course might be pre-calculus, calculus or statistics. For students that choose to do two compaction blocks, fourth year options are limited.

BP 6152.1 Placement in Mathematics Courses
AR 6152.1 Placement in Mathematics Courses