Middle School Math Course Selection Guidance

When students enter grade 6, for the first time, there are choices to be made concerning which mathematics course students will take.
5th Math leads to three choices for 6th Math: Math 6, Math 6, Advanced, and Accelerated Math 6. Each path leads to courses with parity in grades 7 and 8, with the accelerated pathway leading to Algebra 1 in grade 8.



If you want to know the possibilities, even including high school, GCISD publishes middle school and high school math/science course sequence information for parents.  Additionally, consider what college major a student may wish to pursue and whether or not it is algebraically-intensive to determine which math courses would be of greatest benefit to a student in middle and high school.

Knowing there are many choices after successful completion of grade 5 mathematics, which middle school mathematics pathways are viable for students?  Potential course sequences and why students might choose them are explored in detail below.  


Math 5 to Math 6 to Math 7 to Math 8 Pathway graphic
A student who successfully completed grade 5 math can take grade 6 math, grade 6 math advanced, or accelerated grade 6 math next.  In this case, the student chose to take grade 6 math as their next course.  This could happen for several reasons:
1. The student succeeded in mathematics in elementary school and does not want additional challenge in mathematics in middle school.
2. The student struggled in mathematics in elementary school.
This student succeeds in their chosen math courses and does not plan to take Pre-AP mathematics in high school.


math 5 leads to math 6 advanced, which in turn leads to math 7 advanced, and finally to math 8, advanced
A student who successfully completed grade 5 math can take grade 6 math, grade 6 math advanced, or accelerated grade 6 math next.  In this case, the student chose to take grade 6 math advanced as their next course.  This could happen for several reasons:
1. The student succeeded in mathematics in elementary school and wants additional challenge in mathematics in middle school.
2. The student wants to take AP Statistics in high school.
3. The student has strong number sense and the ability to calculate fluently.


Math 5 to Accelerated math 6 to accelerated math 7 to accelerated math 8 pathway graphic

A student who successfully completed grade 5 math can take grade 6 math, grade 6 math advanced, or accelerated grade 6 math next.  In this case, the student chose to take accelerated grade 6 math as their next course.  This could happen for several reasons:
1. The student has the ability to work at an increased pace in learning mathematics.
2. The student succeeded in mathematics in elementary school and wants additional challenge in mathematics in middle school.
3. The student is identified as a GT student and their gifts and talents manifest in the area of mathematics
4. The student wants to take AP Calculus in high school.
5. The student has strong number sense and the ability to calculate fluently.
Students who enroll in the district's STEM Academy at Grapevine Middle School will take the accelerated mathematics pathway.



math 5 to math 6 and then student decides to switch to advanced pathway at grade 7
A student who successfully completed grade 5 math can take grade 6 math, grade 6 math advanced, or accelerated grade 6 math next.  In this case, the student chose to take grade 6 math as their next course but then decided to switch to the advanced mathematics pathway after their 6th grade year.  This could happen for several reasons:
1. The student succeeded at a high level in their 6th grade math course and the teacher recommended placement in advanced mathematics.
2. The student succeeded at a high level in their 6th grade math course and having successfully transitioned to the middle school environment determined that he or she was ready to tackle the challenge of advanced mathematics. 


math 6 leads to math 7 and student decides to switch to the advanced pathway in grade 8
A student who successfully completed grade 5 math can take grade 6 math, grade 6 math advanced, or accelerated grade 6 math next.  In this case, the student chose to take grade 6 math as their next course followed by grade 7 math but then decided to switch to the advanced mathematics pathway after their 7th grade year.  This could happen for several reasons:
1. The student succeeded at a high level in their 7th grade math course and the teacher recommended placement in advanced mathematics.
2. The student succeeded at a high level in their 7th grade math course and desires to take advanced mathematics in high school, and therefore chose to make the transition to advanced prior to high school mathematics.
switching from the math or advanced math pathways to the accelerated pathway requires demonstration of mastery, usually through completion of a summer bridge math course
A student who successfully completed grade 5 math can take grade 6 math, grade 6 math advanced, or accelerated grade 6 math next.  In this case, the student chose to take grade 6 math or grade 6 math advanced as their next course but then decided to switch to the accelerated mathematics pathway after their 6th grade year.  This could happen for several reasons:
1. The student succeeded at a high level in their 6th grade math course and the teacher recommended the student take the summer bridge course to enter the accelerated mathematics pathway.
2. The student succeeded at a high level in their 6th grade math course and having successfully transitioned to the middle school environment determined that he or she was ready to tackle the challenge of accelerated mathematics.
3. The student succeeded at a high level in their 6th grade math course and desires to enroll in the district's STEM Academy at Grapevine Middle School beginning in their 7th grade year.
The student is successful in the summer bridge course, including the end of bridge course exam, and successfully makes the jump to the accelerated mathematics pathway, including taking high school credit mathematics as an 8th grade student enrolled in Algebra 1. 


switching to the accelerated pathway after grade 7 requires demonstration of mastery of 8th grade math, usually by successful completion of a summer bridge courseA student who successfully completed grade 5 math can take grade 6 math, grade 6 math advanced, or accelerated grade 6 math next.  In this case, the student chose to take grade 6 math or grade 6 math advanced as their next course followed by grade 7 math or grade 7 math advanced, but then decided to switch to the accelerated mathematics pathway after their 7th grade year.  This could happen for several reasons:

1. The student succeeded at a high level in their 7th grade math course and the teacher recommended the student take the summer bridge course to enter the accelerated mathematics pathway.
2. The student succeeded at a high level in their 7th grade math course and having successfully transitioned to the middle school environment determined that he or she was ready to tackle the challenge of accelerated mathematics.
3. The student succeeded at a high level in their 7th grade math course and desires to enroll in the district's STEM Academy at Grapevine Middle School beginning in their 8th grade year.
The student is successful in the summer bridge course, including the end of bridge course exam, and successfully makes the jump to the accelerated mathematics pathway, taking high school credit mathematics as an 8th grade student enrolled in Algebra 1. 
 

For more information, please visit our FAQ webpage, read the middle school mathematics course descriptions in the Course Selection Guide/Program of Studies, and use the course selection forms to make your choice(s) in the spring semester.