Class Levels

The District establishes prerequisites for certain academic and elective subjects in order to guide students toward courses and levels appropriate for them at given times of their schooling. These prerequisites may include grade level, subject grades, standardized test scores, fulfillment of certain competency requirements, taking of previous courses, teacher or counselor recommendation, and others.

Courses and prerequisites are indicated in the 1998-99 Middle School Information Handbook, issued to each new student.

Level Adjustments

When a student or parent inquires as to whether the student's current placement is "too hard" or "too easy" in a leveled class—math or English (and in some years, science or social studies)—a placement check is automatically made based on the prerequisites. If an error is discovered, adjustment is made immediately. Otherwise, in certain extenuating circumstances, it may be possible to change levels under a contract among student, parent, teacher, counselor and/or administrator.

If You Dislike a Class

Part of life is adjusting to situations and people that one does not like. One responsibility in education is to try to make sure that problems are resolved in school in ways that prepare one for similar circumstances in the world of work and even in personal relationships. For these reasons, school policy precludes same-level changes of teachers (just as one could not readily "change bosses" in a job), or changes because of "personality conflicts" with teachers, dislike of the teacher or of other students in the class, desire to be with friends who are in other classes, or other such reasons. Instead, counseling is available upon request for dealing with such differences.

The Best Placement in Math

What level is appropriate for your student in mathematics? Regular articulation meetings take place between intermediate and high school math departments. Here is an adaptation of a special message from the District's intermediate school math department chairpersons:

We know that parents of sixth, seventh and eighth graders are anxious to know how middle school classes prepare students for high school math and, in particular, how they prepare students for those classes in high school that meet requirements for college admission.

Our goal is to qualify our students for entry into the California university systems. The math requirements are: three college prep math classes—usually Math 1, Math 2 and Math 3. Other institutions often require the same or fewer math courses. The math section of the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) is based by and large on first-year algebra, rudiments of geometry, and arithmetic reasoning. Students successfully completing Math 6, Math 7 CP and Math 8 CP are prepared to begin Math 1 in 9th grade.

Students successfully completing Math 7 and Math 8 take Math A in ninth grade. This is the entry class for college preparatory courses in high school, and an "A" or "B" grade in ninth grade Math A qualifies a student for Math 1 in tenth grade, Math 2 in eleventh, and Math 3 in twelfth grade. A middle school student taking Math A in 8th and 9th grades will, without summer school or special classes, be able to take math courses required for admission to the University of California and other fine colleges and universities. Also, the level A student who moves into Math 1 in 10th grade will complete Math 1 and 2 before the usual time to take the SAT.

Our purpose is to allay your fears should your student be in level A classes. Your student may need an extra year of maturity before tackling the abstract work in algebra and geometry. Working at the A level in no way jeopardizes your student's chances for college, and may be the best way to help him/her achieve the grades and SAT scores that also figure prominently into college admission.

Here are possible sequences:

7th grade->8th grade->9th grade->10th grade->11th grade->12th grade
·Math 7CP->8A->A->AlgI->GeomI->AlgII

7th grade->8th grade->9th grade->10th grade->11th grade
·Math 7CP->8A->A-> B-> C

7th grade->8th grade->9th grade->10th grade->11th grade
·Math 7CP->8CP->AlgI->GeomI->AlgII