Mathematics

Instructed Areas

Grade 9

Honors Geometry
This is a comprehensive one-year course offered to all students who have successfully completed Algebra I. Two and three dimensional Euclidean concepts are investigated and reinforced through mathematical applications. Skills and concepts of visualization and spatial reasoning are developed through the use of hands-on activities and technology. Students will incorporate algebraic skills to solve real world problems.
 
Guided by the MA Curriculum Frameworks, students will develop competency in the Geometry learning standards. Assessments will be made throughout the course culminating with a final exam.
 
Advanced Algebra I
Algebra I
Algebra is a required comprehensive one-year course for all grade 9 students.
 
Students learn fundamental concepts such as: algebraic properties, solving and graphing linear equations and inequalities, linear systems, polynomial operations, and data analysis. Students will also receive their first introduction to absolute value equations, exponential and radical equations along with monomial factoring. Advanced classes will receive instruction in linear regression, basic matrix operations, division of polynomials, and linear programming. Students will incorporate these skills to solve relevant, real-world problems using graphing calculators and/or technology when appropriate.
 
Guided by the MA Curriculum Frameworks, students will develop competency in the Algebra I learning standards. Successful completion of this course is the prerequisite to Geometry. Assessments will be made throughout the course including mid-term and final exams.
 
Math Concepts I
Math Concepts I is a single semester course for grade 9 students that will solidify their grasp of arithmetic concepts and procedures. This class supplements the Algebra I full-year course and will help students make connections between what is new and what is known.
 
Math Concepts I provides exploratory experiences in number sense, solving equations, data analysis, and probability. Students will acquire concrete skills with the scientific calculator beginning with Unit 5.
 
An emphasis will be placed on understanding the language of mathematics through the development of a set of vocabulary aides. These aides will continue to grow in the Math Concepts II course and will be an invaluable part of any math class the student may take. Students will demonstrate their vocabulary proficiency through their written responses to actual MCAS Open Response Questions in each unit.

Grade 10

Honors Algebra II
This is a comprehensive one-year course offered to all students who have successfully completed Algebra I in grade 8. Mathematical studies will continue through the major aspects of algebra including factoring, linear programming, dimensional and functional analysis, fractional exponents, and matrix operations. Students will incorporate these skills to solve relevant, real world problems using technology when appropriate.
 
Guided by the MA Curriculum Frameworks students will develop competency in the Algebra II learning standards. Assessments will be made throughout the course including mid-term and final exams.

Advanced Geometry
Geometry
This is a comprehensive one-year course offered to all students who have successfully completed Algebra I. Two and three dimensional Euclidean concepts are investigated and reinforced through mathematical applications. Skills and concepts of visualization and spatial reasoning are developed through the use of hands-on activities and technology. Students will incorporate algebraic skills to solve real world problems.
 
Guided by the MA Curriculum Frameworks, students will develop competency in the Geometry learning standards. Assessments will be made throughout the course culminating with a final exam.
 
Math Concepts II
Math Concepts II is a single semester course for grade 10 students that builds on and strengthens their grasp of algebraic and geometric concepts and procedures. This class supplements the full-year Geometry course and will help students make connections between what is new and what is known.
 
Research has shown that to truly comprehend mathematics, students must actively construct their own knowledge of math concepts. At all levels, one of the most powerful ways of doing this is to model concepts with manipulatives (hands-on tools). Therefore, the use of manipulatives will play a large role during this class.
 
Math Concepts II provides exploratory experiences in Euclidean concepts, visualization, spatial reasoning, solving equations, data analysis, and probability. Students will acquire concrete skills with the graphing calculator.
 
As in the Math Concepts I course, an emphasis will be placed on understanding the language of mathematics using the set of vocabulary aids that was developed there. These aides will continue to grow and will be an invaluable part of any math class they take. Students will demonstrate their vocabulary proficiency through their written responses to actual MCAS Open Response questions in each unit.
 
Guided by the MA Curriculum Frameworks, students will develop competency in 9-10 learning standards.

Grade 11

Honors Pre-Calculus
This is a comprehensive one-year course offered to students who have successfully completed Algebra II, which will prepare them for both their technical fields and post-secondary education.
 
Mathematical studies will advance through such topics as function theory and analysis including exponential and logarithmic functions, sequence and series, trigonometric functions, curve sketching, and conic sections. Students will incorporate these skills to solve relevant, real-word problems using technology when appropriate.
 
Advanced Algebra II
This is a comprehensive one-year course offered to all students who have successfully completed Algebra I and Geometry. Mathematical studies will continue through the major aspects of algebra including factoring, linear programming, dimensional and function analysis, fractional exponents, and matrix operations. Students will incorporate these skills to solve relevant, real-world problems using technology when appropriate.
 
Guided by the MA Curriculum Frameworks, students will develop competency in the Algebra II learning standards. Assessments will be made throughout the course including mid-term and final exams.

Topics of Algebra II
This course is offered to those students who have completed Algebra I and Geometry at the standard level. It is a course that extends and develops topics from Algebra I. Topics to be covered include, but are not limited to systems of equations, matrices, quadratic equations, higher order polynomials, rational expressions and radical functions. Students are expected to complete the Algebra II course by enrolling in Adv Algebra II/Trig the following year.

AP Statistics
Statistics
These courses are offered to students concurrently enrolled in Biotechnology. Statistics is a statistics course that introduces students to the major concepts and tools for collecting, analyzing, and drawing conclusions from data. Students cultivate their understanding of statistics using technology, investigations, problem solving, and writing as they explore concepts like variation and distribution; patterns and uncertainty; and data-based predictions, decisions, and conclusions. Students enrolled in the AP level are enrolled in an introductory college-level course and take Collegeboard’s AP test.  

Grade 12

AP Calculus
The course focuses on the general theory and techniques of calculus developed and applied to a wide variety of functions together with their associated applications. Course content includes a detailed study and development of: limiting processes, derivatives and differentiation methods, techniques of integration and their related usage. Students must be able to explain their work both in verbal and written forms. This course is not only about being able to do the problems, but more importantly the “why” behind the major concepts and ideas.
 
Whenever possible, students will follow the “Rule of Four” by looking at topics analytically, numerically, graphically, and verbally/written with emphasis on the connections among the representations. In selecting this course, students will be trained in the exacting methods to be used in taking the AP Calculus AB exam in May.
 
Adv Pre-Calculus
This is a comprehensive one-year course offered to students who have successfully completed Algebra II, which will prepare them for both their technical fields and post-secondary education.
 
Mathematical studies will advance through such topics as function theory and analysis including exponential and logarithmic functions, sequence and series, trigonometric functions, curve sketching, and conic sections. Students will incorporate these skills to solve relevant, real world problems using technology when appropriate.

Algebra II/Trig
This course is currently in development and will be offered in 2020-2021.  This course will be offered to students that have completed Topics of Algebra II.  It is a course which extends and develops topics from Algebra I and Algebra II.  Topics to be covered include, but are not limited to, exponential and logarithmic functions, rational functions, trigonometry, statistics, piecewise functions, linear programming, and selected topics for Accuplacer preparation.