Mathematics Department

Graduation Requirements

Every student must have two credits of mathematics to graduate. As a rule, most universities look for a minimum of three math classes on a high school transcript. Many college-bound students take three or four years of math.

Special Note

Mathematics in District 204 is divided into four strands to meet the needs of all of its students. While there is mobility among the strands as discussed later on this page, it must be acknowledged that in mathematics, success in advanced classes is closely tied into mastery of skills from prerequisite courses. As a result, the sequence in which courses must be taken is rarely negotiable.

• Honors/Advanced Placement Strand (accelerated, college-level work)

• Regular College Prep Strand (college-bound, non-weighted)

• General Strand (also college-prep)

• Fundamental Strand (practical mathematics by placement only)

Before beginning the selection process, we’d like to stress four very important aspects of the different strands of mathematics classes.

• The top three strands prepare students for success in college. Students who wish to enter math or engineering in college would gravitate to the honors strand. Yet all three strands provide a sound mathematics background.

• We do not have separate faculties for the three different strands. Teachers in the Honors strand also teach in the other two strands as well. No strand has the “better” or "easier" teachers.

• Because the field of mathematics is so much more readily quantifiable than any other curricular field in education, both high school mathematics departments rely strongly on standardized test scores and teacher recommendations to help place students into the classes wherein they may experience the greatest academic growth. The recommended placement of students based on these scores is done solely with the best interests of the students in mind. We strongly encourage parents to be active in their student's education and to discuss his or her progress and placement with the student’s current teacher, but please be advised that parental aspiration is not as dependable a standard for success in the classroom as are hard test results.

• There is mobility among the strands, and we strongly encourage students to challenge themselves by finding the courses most suited to their abilities. It is possible to move from one strand to another, as long as the sequence of courses is maintained. Such movement is most wisely made when parents and teachers work together.

In the course descriptions that follow, we have done our best to help students in picking the classes that best suit their needs. We encourage parents to read all the descriptions carefully and to remain an active partner in their child’s education throughout his or her high school education. If you have any questions prior to registering, feel free to contact the Mathematics Department Chair of the high school.

Mathematics Department Graduation Check List

Graduation Requirements: Every student must have two credits of mathematics to graduate. As a rule, most universities look for a minimum of three math classes on a high school transcript. Many college-bound students take three or four years of math.
 

Required Mathematics Courses

Freshman

There are no required freshman mathematics courses, but it is strongly recommended that incoming freshman begin to fulfill the two-year graduation requirement by taking one of the following mathematics classes during freshman year (one credit each):

• Honors Geometry (Honors/Advanced Placement)

• Algebra I (Regular College Prep)

• Two-year Algebra I, Part 1 (General)

• Practical Mathematics I (Fundamental)

Sophomore

There are no required sophomore mathematics courses, but it is strongly recommended that all sophomores continue to fulfill the two-year requirement by taking another mathematics course during sophomore year (one credit each).

• Honors Algebra II/Trigonometry (Honors/Advanced Placement)

• Geometry (Regular College Prep)

• Two-Year Algebra I, Part 2 (General)

• Practical Mathematics II (Fundamental)

Junior

There are no required junior mathematics courses, but it is strongly recommended that all juniors continue in one of the math strands.

• Honors Mathematics Analysis (Honors/Advanced Placement)

• Algebra II/Trigonometry (Regular College Prep)

• Geometry Survey (General)

• Two-Year Algebra I, Part 1 (Fundamental)

Senior

There are no required senior math courses, but students are strongly urged to prepare for college by taking a fourth year of mathematics in one of the strands.

• Advanced Placement Calculus (Honors/Advanced Placement)

• Mathematics Analysis (Regular College Prep)

• Algebra II (General)

• Two-Year Algebra I, Part 2 (Fundamental)

Electives

How do I know which course to take?

Advanced Placement Calculus AB (Grades 11,12)
This is a sound option for honors students who finished Honors Mathematics Analysis their sophomore or junior year, but don’t feel they’re up for the rigors of Calculus BC. This course is similar to Calculus BC but places less emphasis on rigorous proofs as well as excluding some other topics. The course prepares students for the Calculus AB test in the spring, which also generates college credit for students who pass it. Students who take this course most often take Advanced Placement Calculus BC their senior year. (One credit)

Advanced Placement Calculus BC (Grades 11,12)
Students who excelled in Honors Math Analysis may be recommended for Advanced Placement Calculus BC. This class prepares students for the Advanced Placement Calculus BC test in the spring. This test generates AB and BC credit for most universities. Students electing this course have excelled in previous honors classes. If they take this class as juniors, they most often continue their high school experience by taking Calculus III their senior year and earning college credit with the University of Illinois. (One credit)

Algebra I (Grade 9)
Successful math students who did not complete Algebra in middle school will start math at the high school by taking this course. This is a college-bound class that prepares students well for later success. If a student starts mathematics studies here, he or she can still earn college credit by taking the Advanced Placement Statistics or Advanced Placement Computer Science classes later in his or her career. Students who take this class usually take Geometry their sophomore year.
(One credit)

Algebra II (Grades 10,11,12)
This is one of two courses into which students from Geometry usually enter (the other is Algebra II/Trigonometry). This is a course designed for students who would have trouble handling Algebra II and Trigonometry in the same course. If a student had trouble keeping up in Geometry, then this is the course for him or her. This is a slower-paced examination of Algebra II, preparing students to take Trigonometry and Probability & Statistics. (One credit)

Algebra II/Trigonometry (Grades 10,11)
This course is for two groups of students. Most students who did well in Geometry will move into this class as the next logical step. However, if a student struggled through Honors Geometry, frustrated by the pacing, then this may well be the course for him or her. Students in this course most often take Mathematics Analysis as their next math class. (One credit)

Algebra II/Trigonometry Honors (Grades 9,10,11)
This class is in the Honors Strand, leading to Advanced Placement Calculus. If a student did well in Honors Geometry, then this is the course for him or her. It is rare, but sometimes a Geometry teacher may recommend that a student move to this strand. Parents would want to talk to the teacher involved before making that jump. Freshmen who completed Project Arrow Geometry during their eighth-grade year may begin high school by taking this class. Students who take this course traditionally take Honors Mathematics Analysis next. (One credit)

Calculus (Grade 12)
This course is designed for those students who successfully completed Mathematics Analysis their junior year. There may also be the occasional student from Honors Mathematics Analysis who feels that the honors strand is too difficult and is not set for the rigors of Advanced Placement Calculus. (One credit)

Calculus III (Grade 12)
Students who have completed the high school mathematics curriculum by successfully passing Advanced Placement Calculus BC and scoring a “3” or higher on the Advanced Placement exam, may enroll in this dual-credit college course. The course is taught in conjunction with the University of Illinois (Mathematics 242). It is a college course with a very rigorous college curriculum. (One credit)

Geometry (Grades 9,10)
Students who successfully completed accelerated Algebra in middle school may take this Geometry class as a freshman. Starting high school mathematics here can lead to any number of Advanced Placement classes. It is not quite as rigorous or challenging as the Honors Geometry class. Freshman who take this class most often take Algebra II/Trigonometry during their sophomore year. Students who take Algebra I during freshman year usually enroll in this course during their sophomore year. (One credit)

Geometry Honors (Grades 9,10)
Some Algebra I students do so well their freshman year that instead of going into the the traditional Geometry class, they move into the Honors strand by taking Honors Geometry. If a student is considering this move, he or she should probably talk to his or her teacher to see if the move is a wise one. Freshman may also start high school at this level if they completed accelerated Algebra I successfully in eighth grade. When successful here, students usually take Honors Algebra II/Trigonometry their junior year. (One credit)

Geometry Survey (Grades 10,11)
Students who struggled to get through Algebra I may do better in this slightly slower-paced course. This course also serves as the next step for students in the General Strand to take after completion of Two-Year Algebra I, Part 2. Students who take this class traditionally enter Algebra II next. (One credit)

Mathematics Analysis (Grades 11,12)
Mathematics Analysis is the normal progression for those students who have successfully completed Trigonometry followed by Probability & Statistics or Algebra II/Trigonometry. In addition, students who found Honors Algebra II/Trigonometry too difficult, frustrated by its pacing and demands, may wish to take regular Mathematics Analysis course where the pacing will be less demanding. This fulfills the prerequisite to take Calculus the senior year and remains a strong college-preparatory course. (One credit)

Mathematics Analysis Honors (Grades 10,11,12)
This is the traditional class for students who have successfully completed Honors Algebra II/Trigonometry. It is strong college-level class with a more rapid pace than Math Analysis and a greater emphasis on individual growth. (One credit)

Practical Mathematics I (Grade 9)
If a student has struggled to complete mathematics classes throughout middle school, then he or she will be placed here. This course is by placement only. It is not a college-bound course. Students who begin here usually take Practical Mathematics II their sophomore year. (One credit)

Practical Mathematics II (Grade 10)
This course is exclusively for those students who successfully completed Practical Mathematics I. It continues the fundamental strand of math education. (One credit)

Probability & Statistics (Grades 11,12)
This second-semester course is most often taken by students who have passed the Trigonometry course in the first semester. This is an interesting course with many business world connections and should be considered by students who could use its business application in their careers. This is also a good course to prepare students to take Math Analysis their senior year or even the Advanced Placement Statistics course. (.5 credit)

Trigonometry (Grades 11,12)
Students who successfully completed Algebra II most often take this semester-long course. Most who take this first semester follow it up by taking Probability & Statistics in the second semester, and by doing so earn a full math credit. Also students who struggled through Algebra II / Trigonometry who do not feel prepared to move into Math Analysis just yet may decide to take this course, which will help them shore up their trigonometry skills. (.5 credit)

Two-Year Algebra I, Part 1 (Grades 9,11)
Freshmen who struggle in mathematics and are looking for a slower-paced course than traditional Algebra should start mathematics here. This two-year course works at a slower pace and gives students more individual help with fundamental algebraic concepts. Students who take this course usually enroll in Two-Year Algebra I, Part 2 next. This is the next course in the Fundamental Strand for students who have successfully completed Practical Math II. (One credit)

Two-Year Algebra I, Part 2 (Grades 10,12)
This class is primarily for those students who successfully completed Two-Year Algebra I, Part 1. It continues the general strand of mathematics education. (One credit)

Additional Mathematics Options

These classes are often taken simultaneously with one of the previous classes:

Advanced Placement Computer Science (Grades 11,12)
This Advanced Placement course prepares students to take the Advanced Placement Computer Science (Java) test in the spring. To take this class, students must have completed Computer Science. This is a rigorous Advanced Placement course. Many students take this class in addition to another math class. (One credit)

Advanced Placement Statistics (Grades 10,11,12)
This is another Advanced Placement opportunity in the mathematics department. The course is a rigorous, college-level course that prepares students for the Advanced Placement Statistics test in the spring. Students must have completed Algebra II /Trigonometry before they may enroll in this class. Students often take this class concurrently with another math course. (One credit)

Computer Science (Grades 10,11,12)
This course represents an elective mathematics course open to any student who has successfully completed Algebra I. Introducing students to programming, using Visual Basic, it is a prerequisite for Advanced Placement Computer Science. Students must have completed Algebra I or Two-Year Algebra I, Part 2 to enroll in this class. Most students take this course in addition to another math class. (One credit)