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.

Elementary
Middle school
High school

Contact

Gail Moore
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.

HIGHLIGHTS

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

Curriculum and standards

Sixth grade

  • Ratios and relationships with fractions

  • Early expressions and equations

  • Multi-digit division

  • Multi-digit decimal operations

Seventh grade

  • Ratios and relationships with fractions

  • Arithmetic of rational numbers

Eighth grade

  • Linear equations

  • Linear functions

Middle school course pathways

In sixth grade, all VPS students take Math I, an important foundational course for success in middle school math and beyond. 

In seventh grade, students who exceeded grade-level standards the previous year will be enrolled in an accelerated pathway (see Pathway 2), unless a parent or guardian chooses to opt them out. They will take a course that covers both seventh and eighth grade standards. Then, in eighth grade, these students will go on to take a high school Algebra I class.

Course pathway 1

Sixth grade

Math I

Check-in

Review of student progress

Seventh grade

Math II

Eighth grade

Math III

Course pathway 2 (accelerated)

Sixth grade

Math I

Check-in

Review of student progress

Seventh grade

Math II/III

Eighth grade

Algebra I

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

FAQs about state math requirements