The Prince William Public County Schools Mathematics program promotes an environment in which students develop a comprehensive and enduring understanding of the concepts of mathematics. Students learn to effectively apply these concepts and use a variety of problem solving strategies. The program nurtures a productive disposition toward mathematics, challenges all learners and supports further investigations in this field.
Middle School Math Placement
PWCS offers three options in middle school mathematics.
Traditional Pathway
Students in this pathway are in a grade-level appropriate course, learning mathematics at the pace suggested by the Standards of Learning. Students in this path would take Math 6 in grade 6, Math 7 in grade 7, Math 8 in grade 8, and Algebra I in 9th grade. Children who take Algebra I in 9th grade can master four years of high school mathematics, possibly culminating in a pre-calculus class or AP Statistics, and should be well prepared mathematically to compete for admission to the best colleges and universities.
Accelerated Pathway
Students in this pathway accelerate the learning of middle school content, learning three years of content in two years. Math 6 Extended contains all the content from Math 6 and approximately half of the content from Math 7. Math 7 Extended contains the rest of the content from Math 7 and all the content from Math 8. Students in this path would take Math 6 Extended in grade 6, Math 7 Extending in grade 7, and Advanced Algebra I in grade 8. As students in this pathway learn math at a more rapid pace, it is necessary that they have demonstrated a high level of mastery of Kindergarten through Grade 5 Mathematics.
Promoted Pathway
Students in this pathway enter middle school in Math 7 Extended as a sixth grader. This means that the student will not receive formal instruction on the content from Math 6 and some of Math 7. After successful completion of Math 7 Extended, a student would enroll in Advanced Algebra I in grade 7 and Advanced Geometry in grade 8. As students in this pathway will be skipping some content, it is essential that they have demonstrated a high level of mastery of Kindergarten through Grade 5 Mathematics and show evidence of a deep understanding of number relationships.