Westminster offers two levels of 8th grade math, Algebra 1 and Advanced Prealgebra. The Upper School math department has developed the following math placement criteria for 8th grade.
Placement in Algebra 1 is based upon a departmental review of each student’s spring semester Prealgebra grade combined with his/her score on the Algebra Readiness Test administered during May exam week. Each 7th grade student whose spring semester Prealgebra average is 80 or greater is invited to take the Algebra Readiness Test. This readiness instrument was developed by the Upper School math department and has proven to be helpful in placing students in the appropriate math class.
Please note that, while we encourage students with a 7th grade Prealgebra average of 80 or above to take the readiness test, most students who successfully continue in the honors math track have earned spring Prealgebra averages greater than 87. Those students who do not meet the readiness criteria will be enrolled in Advanced Prealgebra in preparation for Algebra 1 in the 9th grade.
Studies and statistics, both nationally and at Westminster, show long-term math achievement is a function of strenuous standards and appropriate placement. Studies also confirm that continued success in math is directly correlated to the level of achievement attained by a student during the previous year. Westminster’s criteria and placement process agree with this research and, accordingly, serve the educational needs of each student.
