6th Grade Placement Information

6th Grade Placement Information

As we continue the implementation of Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for Mathematics, the District has developed two Mathematics pathways beginning at the middle school level.

  1. Common Core Path: Grades 6 - 8 - 6th, 7th, and 8th grade Mathematics courses that reflect the increased rigor of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for Mathematics.

  2. Accelerated Path: Grades 6-7; Advanced Path: Grade 8 - This Accelerated Path includes Accelerated 6th and Accelerated 7th, as well as the first year of High School Integrated (Advanced) Mathematics as 8th graders.

  • 6th and 7th Grade: Accelerated 6th and 7th - The new middle school advanced course pathway will take key Common Core Mathematics concepts and standards and "compact" them to enable advanced students to complete three years of CCSS mathematics standards in two years.

  • Grade 8: Integrated I, Advanced - The first year of High School Integrated (Advanced) Mathematics at the middle school. The Advanced Integrated sequence includes additional content - including pre-calculus standards.

Please note:

The Accelerated Math 6 class is not an "advanced" math course. The course does not explore a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts. The standards taught in the Common Core pathway are simply presented following an accelerated pacing guide. Students must possess a mastery of foundational math skills without outside support, resilience to adversity, and a growth mindset where failure is seen as an opportunity to learn.

SDUSD has developed District Guidelines, with multiple indicators, for determining placement into Accelerated Mathematics courses. All 5th grade students took a District-generated placement exam in March. Unlike traditional standardized tests which measure student understanding of content already taught, the placement test also measured students' knowledge of content they have not been exposed to during their education. The purpose was to determine if accelerating the pace and condensing mathematical concepts would negatively impact your child's performance.

The following rubric was developed for identifying student placement in mathematics:

Exam Result

First Semester Math Grades

Placement Recommendation

Score Range: 90 - 100%

Majority of 3s and 4s

Accelerated 6th

Score Range: 70% - 89%

Majority of 3s or 4s

Accelerated 6th

Majority of 1s or 2s

Common Core 6th

Score Range: 69% or lower

Majority of 1s, 2s, 3s or 4s

Common Core 6th

If your child did not meet SDUSD math criteria for placement in the Accelerated Mathematics 6 course for the following school year, you have the option to request that your child be re-evaluated for placement in the Accelerated Mathematics 6 class. Parents will be notified of the results of their appeal upon receipt of their child's schedule at the opening of school.

In order to make this appeal, you must return the form below by the first week in May to the Dana Middle School office. Appeals received after this date will be considered with the student being placed on a wait list in the order appeals are received and reviewed as seats and more data become available.

Please understand that we may not be able to move your child from the Accelerated course in the event he/she may fail it. If your child earns a D or F on his/her second semester Accelerated Math 6 grade, he/she will automatically be considered for placement in Common Core Math 7 for the following school year.

Our central goal is to provide equal access to rigorous opportunities for all our students and to identify the individuals who have naturally mastered advanced mathematical concepts, without additional prompting, tutoring or intervention and are ready for acceleration.

Thank you for your involvement and support.

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