KHSD Mathematics Placement Policy

The Kern High School District is committed to maximizing student success. As we prepare our students for life after high school, we actively encourage students to pursue the highest level of coursework appropriate for their learning.

In order for students to be provided an opportunity to complete a sequence of Mathematics courses recommended for admission into the University of California and California State University systems the governing board desires consistent protocols for placing incoming freshmen students in Mathematics courses offered at district high schools.

To address this, KHSD principals and math leaders have developed a math placement policy by which students may be accurately placed such that all students have access to high-quality mathematics programs appropriate to the student.

Placement Tools

Student placement will be performed by high school principals and/or designees using a combination of the following criteria to develop a math profile: Mathematics Grades from Feeder Districts, Diagnostic Assessments, Smarter Balanced Assessment Data, Qualitative data related to math progress

Math Placement

In general, students who are successful in grade-level mathematics classes will move on to the subsequent grade-level math course the following year. Students will be placed in the appropriate mathematics course according to the following.

Students in a math course covering CA Algebra standards who received an A/B/C will be placed into Geometry during 9^th grade. Students whose STAR Math scaled score is below 850 are recommended to take a math course covering mostly topics from 2^nd semester Algebra during the six weeks of summer school prior to entering 9^th grade.
Students in a math course covering CA Algebra standards who received a D/F will be placed into Algebra during 9^th grade.
Students in an accelerated 8th grade math course covering 8^th grade CA Math Standards who receive an A/B/C in the course and whose STAR Math scaled score is at least 850 will be placed into Geometry in 9^th grade upon successful completion of an Algebra course covering mostly topics from 2^nd semester Algebra during the six weeks of summer school prior to entering 9^th grade.
- An accelerated 8th grade math course is one where students are grouped due to their ability and thus, can proceed more quickly and more focused through the 8^th grade CA Math Standards with a special focus on in depth teaching of linear functions and systems of linear functions.
Students in a math course covering 8^th grade CA Math Standards who received an A/B/C will be placed into Algebra during 9^th grade. Students whose STAR Math scaled score is below 700 or whose 7^th grade SBAC Achievement Level is below 3 are recommended to take a math course covering mostly topics from 7^th and 8^th grade CA Math Standards during the six weeks of summer school prior to entering 9^th grade.
Students in a math course covering 8^th grade CA Math Standards who received a D/F will be placed into Algebra during 9^th grade if their STAR Math scaled score is at least 850 and their 7^th grade SBAC Math Achievement Level is at least 3. It is strongly recommended these students take a math course covering mostly topics from 7^th and 8^th grade CA Math Standards during the six weeks of summer school prior to entering 9^th grade.
- Note: For the 2016-17 school year, 7^th grade SBAC Math Achievement Levels will be unavailable.
Students in a math course covering 8^th grade CA Math Standards who received a D/F will be placed into Foundations 2 during 9^th grade.
Students in a math course covering CA Math Standards below 8^th grade who’s STAR Math scaled score is at least 600 will be placed into Foundations 2 during 9^th grade.
Students in a math course covering CA Math Standards below 8^th grade who’s STAR Math scaled score is below 600 will be placed into Foundations 1 during 9^thgrade.

When a student does not qualify to be enrolled in a higher level mathematics course based on a consideration of the objective measures specified in the placement protocols, he/she may nevertheless be admitted to the course based on the recommendation of the student’s feeder school teacher or counselor who has personal knowledge of the student's academic ability.

Appeals

Students or parents/guardians must first address the concern with the principal and/or designee to clarify the placement issue, review the course-dependent criteria and the student math profile in order to resolve the matter. If the issue is not resolved, students may appeal their placement by taking an exam at their respective school site at a reasonable time determined by the school site. The exam will be performance based and will be subject specific according to the mathematics course being appealed.

We welcome any questions, comments or concerns. It is our desire to promote high levels of learning within all Kern High School District mathematics classrooms so that students may experience success after high school, in both college and career. We encourage parents and students to visit your future high school and speak to administrators and counselors about the options that best meet the particular needs of each learner.