MATH

UNDERSTANDING NUMBERS AND SOLVING
REAL-WORLD PROBLEMS

We believe in engaging all students in math lessons that help them grow their abilities and knowledge. Responding to the individual needs and strengths of each student is a priority in math instruction. Through their math education, students should learn to apply math to real-world settings.

Contact

Melina Dyer
K-5 math curriculum specialist
360-313-1020
Email

CORE CONCEPTS

GROWING

Students are invited to question, draw, discuss and play with math concepts and skills so that they develop a positive mathematical mindset.

CULTIVATING

Facilitating deep connections with mathematical concepts and offering opportunities to accelerate learning.

APPLYING

Helping students prepare for their post–high school plans.

ELEMENTARY

Elementary

Curriculum and standards

Addition and subtraction: Concepts, skills and problem-solving, place value

  • Kindergarten: Add/Subtract within 5

  • First grade: Add/Subtract within 10
  • Second grade: Add/subtract within 100 and single-digit sums and differences (sums from memory by end of second grade)

Multiplication and division of whole numbers and fractions: Concepts, skills and problem solving; single-digit products and quotients

  • Third grade: Single-digit multiplication (accurately multiply and divide within 100); add/subtract within 1,000

  • Fourth grade: Add/subtract within 1,000,000

  • Fifth grade: Multi-digit multiplication

MIDDLE SCHOOL

WHAT ARE MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH PATHWAYS?

  • Math builds on itself. This means future success in higher level math courses is dependent on a deep understanding of, and ability to apply beginning-math concepts.

  • For this reason, it is important that concepts are taught in a certain order – math pathways – and that the student learns, understands and retains previous math knowledge. 

THE TRADITIONAL MATH PATHWAY AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL LEVEL

  • In order to build a strong foundation of math ability, many important math concepts previously taught at higher grades have shifted to sixth grade.

Middle school

Curriculum and standards

Math I–Sixth grade

The first critical middle school math course is Math I. Most sixth grade students will start in Math I which is designed to build a strong math foundation of knowledge by focusing on: 

  • Ratios and relationships with fractions

  • Operations with fractions

  • Algebraic expressions and equations


A student’s ability to apply and understand concepts in Math I determine whether they will progress on a traditional or accelerated math pathway to graduation beginning in seventh grade.

Math II–Seventh grade

Traditional pathway students will take Math II in seventh grade. Math II focuses on these major concepts:

  • Ratios and proportional relationships in real-life math problems

  • Operations with fractions

  • Solve real-life and mathematical problems using numerical and algebraic expressions and equations

Math III–Eighth grade

Math III is the traditional pathway math class for 8th grade students. Math III focuses on the following concepts:

  • Linear equations

  • Linear functions

  • Integers and exponents

This represents the traditional middle school math pathway, but there are many math pathways depending on a student’s academic performance.

HIGH SCHOOL

High school

Course options

Graduation requirements

Curriculum and standards

  • Ratios and relationships with fractions

  • Percentages and unit conversions (e.g., in the context of complicated measurement problems involving quantities with derived or compound units)
  • Basic function concepts (e.g., by interpreting the features of a graph in the context of an applied problem)
  • Concepts and skills of geometric measurement (e.g., when analyzing a diagram or schematic)
  • Concepts and skills of basic statistics and probability
  • Performing rational number arithmetic fluently

  • Algebra I

  • Algebra II

  • Applied algebra (career and technical education dual credit)

  • Geometry

  • Concepts and skills of basic statistics and probability

  • Statistics and data literacy

  • Modeling our world with mathematics

  • Pre-calculus

  • Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate calculus

  • Advanced Placement statistics

  • Bridge to College

All public high school students are required to meet statewide graduation requirements to earn a diploma.

  • 1 credit of Algebra I
  • 1 credit of geometry

  • 1 credit of a high school–level math course that meets the student’s education and career goals identified in their high school and beyond plan