New math requirements for high school students starting 2016-2017 school year.

Lake County High School’s math courses are slightly changing. Most of us took the following sequence of classes in high school: Algebra I, then Geometry, then Algebra II. Unfortunately, rich mathematical problems are not often contained within a single subject. Instead, a good problem might contain elements of geometry, algebra, and other branches of mathematics. It has become less relevant to teach these subjects separately.

We will now be offering Integrated I instead of Algebra I, Integrated II instead of Geometry, and Integrated III instead of Algebra II.

Integrated means that the three traditional subjects (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II), along with some other branches (Probability and Statistics), have been mixed together and spread out over three years. This will help our students practice and retain their algebra and geometry skills each year while providing the opportunity for us to help students make connections between algebra and geometry content.

This change is also driven by a change in state testing. 10^th graders used to take the PARCC exam, which was composed of 95% geometry. 10^th graders now take the PSAT, which is composed of 25% geometry and has many questions about algebra. Thus, it does not make sense for 10^th graders to do a full year of only geometry in 10^th grade.

We are not the only district making this change. Here are two examples of large districts who are switching to an integrated pathway:

http://edsource.org/2015/california-districts-moving-to-new-integrated-high-school-math-pathway/89288

http://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/tn/2015/01/21/quick-hit-metro-nashville-schools-moves-to-integrated-math-curriculum/#.VzSJcxUrKHq

This change also has the high school math courses mimic what occurs in all other grades, where the mathematical subject areas of algebra, geometry, statistics, and probability are intermixed into one year.

Students who have taken our traditional courses (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II), will receive credit for these and will not have to retake any courses. They will continue along our new pathway in the appropriate spot. For example, a student who took Algebra I this year will take Integrated II next year.

Feel free to contact LCHS Math teacher Karl Remsen kremsen@lakecountyschools.net with any questions

MATHEMATICS – New Graduation Requirements

Four (4) credits required including:

Integrated I or Algebra I                                  1 credit

Integrated II or Geometry                                1 credit

Additional Math course options:                      2 credits

Accounting I, II

Personal Finance, Engineering

Integrated III (or Algebra II), Algebraic Literacy (MAT 055), College Algebra (MAT 121), College Trigonometry (MAT 122), AP Calculus