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Most of the courses offered at BAHS are sequential. The student must master the material at one level before moving on to the next.

With the requirement starting in the class of 2003 that each student pass the Algebra High School Assessment this mastery of each level becomes even more imperative. The courses that a student selects depend a great deal on the class taken in 8th grade and the teacher recommendation from that class.

Following are examples of the tracks a student may select.

1. The student takes Transitions Mathematics in 8th grade.

   The student will take Algebra 1A in 9th grade, Algebra 1B in 10th grade, Applied Geometry or Integrated Geometry in 11th grade and, if desired, Consumer Math in 12th grade. If Integrated Geometry is successfully completed the student may choose to take Algebra 2 as a senior.

   • 8th Transitions > 9th Algebra 1A > 10th Algebra 1B
   • 11th Applied Geometry -- OR -- Integrated Geometry
   • 12th Consumer Math -- Algebra 2
     
     
2. The student takes Algebra 1A in 8th grade and earns a low C, a D or E.

   The student should retake Algebra 1A in 9th grade (and will receive math credit toward graduation), Algebra 1B in 10th grade, Applied or Integrated Geometry in 11th grade, and if desired, Consumer Math in 12th grade (or Algebra 2 if Integrated Geometry is successfully completed). This gives the student a thorough basis in Algebra and the required 3 math credits (including 1 algebra, 1 geometry) for graduation.
   
   

   • 8th Algebra 1A > 9th Algebra 1A (repeat) > 10th Algebra 1B
   • 11th Applied Geometry -- OR -- Integrated Geometry
   • 12th Consumer Math -- OR -- Algebra 2
     
     
3. The student takes Algebra 1A in 8th grade and earns a C, B or A.

   The students should take Algebra 1B in 9th grade. Depending on the mastery level the student will take Applied or Integrated Geometry in 10th grade. The student who takes Applied Geometry will then take Consumer Math in 11th grade. The student who takes Integrated Geometry will take Algebra 2 in 11th grade, followed by either Trigonometry/ Advanced Math or Foundations of College Math in 12th grade.
   
   

   • 8th Algebra 1A > 9th Algebra 1B
   • 10th Applied Geometry -- OR -- Integrated Geometry
   • 11th Consumer Math -- OR -- Algebra 2
   • 12th Trigonometry/Adv. Math -- OR --Foundations of College Math
     
     
4. The student takes Algebra 1B in 8th grade and earns a low C, D or E.

   The student should retake Algebra 1B in 9th grade. Depending on the mastery level the student will take Applied or Integrated Geometry in 10th grade. The student who takes Applied Geometry will then take Consumer Math in 11th grade. The student who takes Integrated Geometry will take Algebra 2 in 11th grade, followed by either Trigonometry/ Advanced Math or Foundations of College Math in 12th grade.
   
   

   • 8th Algebra 1B
   • 9th Algebra 1B (repeat)
   • 10th Applied Geometry Integrated Geometry
   • 11th Consumer Math Algebra 2
   • 12th Trigonometry/Adv.Math Foundations of College Math
     
     
5. The student takes Algebra 1B in 8th grade and earns a C, B or A.

   The student will take Integrated Geometry in 9th grade, Algebra 2 in 10th grade, Trigonometry/Advanced Math in 11th grade, and either Pre-Calculus or Foundations of College Math in 12th grade. The A student in 8th grade 1B who wishes to enter the mathematics honors program must take Integrated Geometry for original credit in summer school prior to 9th grade. Then this student will start 9th grade with Algebra 2 and may test into the Honors Program.
   
   

   • 8th Algebra 1B -- OR -- Integrated Geometry for Orig. Credit in Summer School
   • 9th Integrated Geometry Algebra 2
   • 10th Algebra 2 Trigonometry/Advanced Math
   • 11th Trigonometry/Adv. Math AP Comp Sci(opt) Pre-Calculus AP Statistics(opt)
   • 12th Pre-Calculus Foundations of College Math AP Stat(opt) AP Calculus
     
     
6. The student takes Integrated Geometry in 8th grade.

   The student will take either Honors Algebra 2 or Integrated Algebra 2, depending on teacher recommendations and qualifications for the Honors Program. The student will take Trigonometry/ Advanced Math in 10th grade, Pre-Calculus in 11th grade and Advanced Placement Calculus in 12th grade.
   
   

   • 8th Integrated Geometry
   • 9th Honors Algebra 2 > Integrated Algebra 2
   • 10th Trigonometry/Advanced Math AP Computer Science (optional)
   • 11th Pre Calculus AP Statistics (optional)
   • 12th AP Calculus
     
     

   Should any student decide to accelerate the course schedule further by taking classes at the community college, he or she must pass the Bel Air Math Department Final Examination for the class with an 80% or above to skip the class at Bel Air. The classes at the community college do not cover the same material that we cover in ours.

   If at any time a student does not complete a class with a solid C or higher, it is strongly recommended that the student repeat the class to improve mastery of the skills before attempting the next class in the series. The Integrated curriculum spirals and incomplete mastery of the pre-requisite skills is a major cause of failure in the subsequent class. If the student maintains that he or she really understands the concepts, but just didn't want to do the homework, there should be heavy emphasis placed on the fact that completely doing the homework is an integral part of practicing the skills and failure to do so does result in failure to completely master the subject. Squeaking by in one class and moving to the next level usually results in failure of that next class.
   

Additional Information

1. There are two elective classes that may be added to a student's schedule or may replace Pre-Calculus or AP Calculus during the senior year.
   1. Advanced Placement Statistics. The student must complete Trigonometry/Advanced Math to enroll in this class.
   2. Advanced Placement Computer Science. The student must complete Algebra 2 to enroll in this class.
2. Foundations of College Math is open only to seniors who have completed at least Algebra 2.
3. Juniors in Trigonometry/ Advanced Math who maintain an A average (minimum of 2A's and 1B) for the first 3 quarters will be given the opportunity to work ahead (on their own time) in selected sections of the Pre-Calculus text, to test out of Pre-Calculus and take AP Calculus during the senior year. This option is not available to 10th graders.
4. There are Collaborative/Cooperative Classes available in Algebra 1A, Algebra 1B and Applied Geometry.
5. Honors Algebra 2 is the only Honors Program Math class offered at Bel Air.