FCUSD Middle School Mathematics Pathway Update (Mar 3, 2025)

FCUSD Middle School Mathematics Pathway Update (Mon, Mar 3, 2025)

This serves as an update to our previous message regarding Mathematics Pathways for the 2025-26 school year and beyond. Please see the chart below to review the Updated Middle School Mathematics Pathways.

Updated Middle School Mathematics Pathways in which current 5th graders will access:

Mathematics Pathway	6th Grade	7th Grade	8th Grade
Pathway 1	Course 1	Course 2	Course 3
Pathway 2*	Course 2	Course 3	Integrated Math 1
Pathway 3*	Course 3	Integrated Math 1	Integrated Math 2

*Pathways 2 and 3 are accelerated pathways that require passing the placement test at the end of 5th grade, as stated in the original message.

For the 2025-26 school year only, Honors Course 2 will remain available. During this transition year to the new Mathematics Pathways, all 6th-grade and 7th-grade students will take a placement test during the first two weeks of May to finalize 7th-grade and 8th-grade math placement. After this spring, all 6th and 7th-grade challenge/placement tests will sunset. Once in high school, students have additional opportunities to further their mathematical studies by challenging courses and/or taking Dual Enrollment or Concurrent courses through the community college.

2025-26 school year: Mathematics Pathways for current 6th-grade students

Mathematics Pathway	Current 6th Grade Course	7th Grade 2025-26	8th Grade 2026-27
Pathway 1*	Course 1	Course 2 or  Course 3	Course 3 or Integrated  Math 1
Pathway 2*	Course 1 Honors	Course 2 Honors or  Integrated Math 1	Integrated Math 1 or Integrated 2
Pathway 3*	Course 2 Honors	Integrated Math 1 or Integrated Math 2	Integrated Math 2 or Integrated Math 3

*Pathways that are accelerated require passing a placement test in May of 2025.

2025-26 school year: Mathematics Pathways for current 7th-grade students

Mathematics Pathway	Current 7th Grade Course	8th Grade 2025-26
Pathway 1*	Course 2	Course 3 or Integrated Math 1
Pathway 2*	Course 2 Honors	Integrated Math 1 or Integrated Math 2
Pathway 3*	Integrated Math 1	Integrated Math 2 or Integrated Math 3

*Pathways that are accelerated require passing a placement test in May of 2025.

As we move forward, we are committed to making this transition seamless while maintaining a high-quality educational experience for your student. The Updated Middle School Mathematics Pathway is designed to provide a strong mathematical foundation, ensuring that students have the opportunity to advance and succeed in high school and beyond. The ability to challenge courses is still available to your student at the beginning of their Freshman year at our high schools.  Students entering high school will have opportunities to accelerate their studies through a variety of methods, including course challenges, Dual Enrollment, or Concurrent Enrollment with Folsom Lake Community College. Your child’s success remains our top priority, and we are here to support them every step of the way.

Original message sent 2/7

Joint Communication from FCUSD and Folsom Cordova Educators Association

Middle School Mathematics Pathway Update

The goal of FCUSD is to ensure that all students have a strong mathematical foundation while providing opportunities for those ready for acceleration in advanced courses. After reviewing our current practices, we are refining our model to create consistency between middle and high school programs.

This new model continues to provide clear acceleration options for our middle school students while ensuring they develop strong mathematical skills. Integrated Math I and II align with high school expectations, making the transition from middle to high school much smoother for students.

In addition, students entering high school will have opportunities to accelerate their studies through a variety of methods including course challenges, Dual Enrollment, or Concurrent Enrollment with Folsom Lake Community College.

We are confident these refinements will continue to provide challenging, rigorous learning opportunities for our middle school students.

Course Pathways:

Beginning in the Spring of 2025, 5th-grade students who meet the criteria of a Level 4 on the 23-24 CAASPP Mathematics Assessment and a Level 4 on the 24-25 Renaissance Star Math Fall or Winter administration will have the option to take a placement test which will determine their initial middle school mathematics course.

Incoming 6th graders will be placed in a course based on proficiency in grade-level standards as indicated below:

Course 1 (6th Grade Standards)	Ready for grade-level standards.
Course 2 (7th Grade Standards)	Demonstrated mastery of 6th-grade standards and readiness for 7th-grade standards on the placement test.
Course 3 (8th Grade Standards)	Demonstrated mastery of 7th-grade standards and readiness for 8th-grade standards on the placement test.

 

These pathways ensure:

• Students are learning content suited to their needs and readiness without skipping material or rushing through the curriculum.
• Students develop a deep mathematical foundation.
• Students who are ready and able to complete an accelerated path have the opportunity to complete Integrated Math II as 8th graders and Calculus BC by 12th grade.
• Consistency with the acceleration model at the high school level.
  • Integrated Math I and II are consistent with the high school courses allowing a positive transition to those programs.

 

	6th Grade	7th Grade	8th Grade
Pathway 1	Course 1	Course 2	Course 3
Pathway 2	Course 2	Course 3	Integrated Math 1
Pathway 3	Course 3	Integrated Math 1	Integrated Math 2

 

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: When will this new mathematics model be implemented?

A: The new placement test and acceleration model will be implemented starting with current 5th-grade students.

Q: If a 5th-grade student does not meet the criteria for the placement test, what course will they take?

A: 5th-grade students who do not meet the criteria for the placement test will take Course 1 (6th-grade standards) as their 6th-grade math course.

Q: When will the placement test be given to 5th-grade students?

A: The test will be administered prior to Spring Break. Exact times/dates will be coordinated at each Elementary site and communicated to their families in the next few weeks.

Q: Will there be any changes for current middle school students?

A: For the 2025-26 year, all current middle school students will continue on their current pathway. Students currently in Course 1 Honors will take Course 2 Honors next year. Students currently in Course 2 Honors will take Integrated Math 1 next year. Course 1 Honors will sunset this year (2024-2025). After the 2025-2026 school year and moving forward, Course 2 Honors classes will sunset, replaced with the accelerated pathway program mirroring high school pathways.

Q: Why are there no Honors courses in mathematics?

A: The honors courses at the middle school have been an option for an accelerated pathway. The new accelerated pathway model continues to provide the option for advanced coursework/acceleration while prioritizing the depth of understanding necessary for long-term success. Additionally, Integrated Math I and II are consistent with the high school courses, facilitating a seamless placement into the high school math program.

Q: Will middle school students be able to challenge courses at the end of 6th and 7th grade?

A: After the Spring of 2025, challenge/placement tests will not be offered for middle school courses, but upon entering high school students have additional opportunities to further their mathematical studies by challenging courses, and/or taking Dual Enrollment or Concurrent courses through the community college.

Posted by Folsom Cordova Unified School District on Monday, Mar 3 at 5:27 PM in Math Message 02.07.2025