Middle School Advanced Mathematics Program

All students going into middle school have the opportunity to take Judson ISD’s Advanced Mathematics Program that will allow students to take Algebra I in 8^th grade and open up more advanced math opportunities in high school.  To do so, a student simply needs to enroll in 6^th Grade Honors/GT Mathematics.  In addition to all students having the opportunity, the State of Texas now requires that any students scoring in the top 40% in 5^th grade math using the criteria below must automatically be enrolled in 6^th Grade Honors/GT Mathematics.

Automatic Enrollment Requirements (2 TEC §28.029, 19 TAC §74.2101)

“The purpose of the Middle School Advanced Mathematics Program is to ‘increase the number of students who complete advanced mathematics course in high school.’ To this end, each school district and open-enrollment charter school is required to develop a program to enable students to take Algebra I in eighth grade. Specifically, the law requires LEAs to automatically enroll each sixth-grade student who performed in the top 40 percent on—

1. the Grade 5 Math STAAR Assessment or
2. a local measure, that includes
   - the student’s fifth grade class ranking or
   - demonstrated proficiency in the student’s fifth grade mathematics coursework.

The parent or guardian of a student who has been identified for automatic enrollment in a LEA’s middle school advanced mathematics program may opt the student out of the program.”¹

Automatic Enrollment Criteria

• Any incoming Grade 6 student who took the Spring 2024 Grade 5 Mathematics STAAR and received a scale score of 1651 or higher will automatically be enrolled in 6th Grade Honors Mathematics.  The scale score required to be in the top 40 percent will change year to year based on State performance.
• Any incoming Grade 6 student in the top 40 percent of the District on the Grade 5 End-of-Year NWEA Map Single-Term Achievement data (RIT score of 219) in mathematics will automatically be enrolled in 6th Grade Honors Mathematics.
• Additionally, the District will use NWEA Map Math 6 Beginning-of-Year (BOY) scores for students currently in 6^th Grade Math who did not take the 5^th Grade STAAR Mathematics to screen for students.  Students receiving a score in the 60^th percentile or higher nationally on the BOY Map would need to be scheduled into 6^th Grade Honors Mathematics.

Why Math Matters:

Research indicates that math, more than reading, is a strong predictor of future academic achievements. Specifically, participating in advanced math courses during middle and high school has numerous benefits for your student:

1.  Opportunity for Success: taking advanced math courses in middle and high school significantly increases the likelihood of students earning a credential, associate degree, or bachelor's degree.

2.  College Credit in High School: Students who engage in college aligned courses (such as Dual Credit (DC), Advanced Placement (AP), OnRamps) and/or complete a Career and Technical Education (CTE) program of study during high school are twice as likely to earn a credential, associate or bachelor's degree.

3.  Increased Access and Wages: Completing Algebra I in 8th grade has been linked to higher rates of postsecondary credential completion and increased wages in the workplace.

Advanced Math Pathway Overview:

6th	7th	8th	9th	10th	11th	12th
6th Grade Honors/ GT Math	7th Grade Honors/ GT Math	Algebra 1 Honors/ GT	Geometry Honors	Algebra II Honors	AP Pre-Cal, DC College Algebra, Statistics, AP Statistics, AP Calculus AB	DC College Algebra, AP Statistics, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC

 

By embarking on this path, students will receive accelerated mathematics instruction in 6^th and 7^th grade to prepare them to take Algebra I, a high school course, in 8th grade.  In high school they will have the opportunity to explore advanced math courses like Dual Credit and Advanced Placement (AP). This early exposure significantly increases the likelihood of students earning a postsecondary credential or degree, six times over.

Our goal is to support and encourage students to follow a math pathway that aligns with their current needs and future goals. We believe that this program will empower student to excel in their mathematical pursuits and contribute to their overall academic success. 

Implementation Timeline

• July 1^st: Middle Schools receive projected number of students to be automatically enrolled in 6^th Grade Honors Mathematics.
• July 8^th: Commissioner’s Rules Effective Date
• July 15^th: Criteria for automatic enrollment in 6^th Grade Honors Mathematics will be published on the Judson ISD website and sent out in the parent district newsletter.
• July 15^th: Student lists sent to elementary campuses along with parent letter template and parent opt out form.
• July 22^nd: Deadline for campuses to provide written notice to students being automatically enrolled in 6^th Grade Honors Mathematics
• August 7^th: Deadline for parents to request opt out.
• September 16^th-20^th: 6^th Grade Math NWEA Map Screeners (BOY)
• September 24^th: Deadline for completion of student schedule changes by counselors based on Grade 6 Map Math BOY data.

Opt-out Process

If the parent/guardian of a student, who qualifies for automatic enrollment in 6^th Grade Honors/GT Math going into 6^th grade, does not wish for their student to participate in the Middle School Advanced Mathematics Program, the parent/guardian will need to contact their student’s Middle School Counselor to request an opt out form, complete the opt out form, and return the form to their student’s Middle School Counselor by August 7^th, 2024.