New School Year, New Math Curriculum for Matawan Aberdeen Middle Schoolers

Matawan Aberdeen Middle School students will have the opportunity to take more challenging math classes thanks to a new set of common core state standards (CCSS), according to district administrators. 

The Matawan Aberdeen Regional School District sent home a letter detailing the new standards over the summer, which are required by the state to be implemented by the upcoming school year.

There will be four prescribed "pathways" this September, according to the letter.

A student on a traditional pathway would take algebra 1 in ninth grade and work up to pre-calculous, statistics or advanced algebra and trigonometry in twelfth grade. 

A student on a compacted pathway would take algebra 1 in eight grade and work up to pre-calculus honors, calculus honors, statistics or advanced algebra and trigonometry in twelfth grade. 

The accelerated/compacted pathway is for highly advanced students and requires a test to qualify. Math classes become accelerated in sixth grade and the student will take algebra 1 in eighth grade. Geometry is taken before high school, followed algebra 2 honors and trigonometry in ninth grade, advanced placement calculus AB in tenth grade and advanced calculus BC in eleventh grade. As a senior, the student would take calculous 3, known as multivariable calculus and math for the 21st century. 

A student who does not complete algebra 1 in eighth grade but wishes to take calculus 3 in twelfth grade may double up take both algebra 2 and trigonometry and geometry in ninth grade. 

"The goal of these new and more rigorous standards is for students to graduate high school prepared to succeed in college and the modern workforce," the letter reads.