The Orcutt Union School District has developed mathematics pathways for students in grades 6-12 using an extensive stakeholder input process across the public school districts in the Santa Maria Valley. These meetings began in 2014 with the adoption of new mathematics standards by the State of California which included an entire new year of math for eighth grade students. Members of the Santa Maria Valley Mathematics Task Force have met over the years and have collaborated around the creation of these pathways with a focus on instructional coherence and multiple opportunities for students to access higher level mathematics instruction.
Beginning in the 2020-21 school year, all students in grades K-8 will receive their grade level instruction; however, there are opportunities for advancement for students who demonstrate high levels of achievement and mastery of the content standards. Beginning in junior high, eligible students can participate in an additional section of mathematics instruction in their eighth grade year through enrollment in additional coursework. This opportunity exists throughout the entirety of their high school career. This flexibility enables students and their families to determine the best time to accelerate their mathematics learning.
Please refer to the Mathematics Pathways Flowchart for course sequencing information.
During Summer 2024, a district team developed a new plan for math acceleration in grades 7 and 8. The new plan is a four-page document that includes background on math acceleration in Orcutt, our assumptions, the math pathways we offer students, and specific criteria for four acceleration opportunities:
- The opportunity for incoming seventh graders to take eighth-grade math while in seventh grade;
- The opportunity for incoming eighth graders to take Algebra 1 concurrently with eighth-grade math;
- Placing junior high school students who have completed college courses in math; and
- Placing students with exceptionally high math achievement on a personalized acceleration path.
District math consultants Michele Douglass and Elizabeth Hammonds, Cal Poly math professor and CSU/UC Mathematics Diagnostic Testing Project Site Director Dr. Kate Riley, and Santa Barbara County Education Office Director of Equitable Learning Systems Lauren Aranguren provided input for the plan.
Please review the Junior High School Placement Plan. Any questions can be addressed to Joe Dana, assistant superintendent of educational services, at jdana@orcutt-schools.net.
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