Mathematics Courses

  • The Mathematics Department offers a variety of courses designed to meet each student’s needs and ability. The courses offered include college preparatory courses and advanced placement courses:

     

    • Algebra Foundations: This course focuses on skills needed for success in Algebra
    • Algebra: Common Core Algebra course
    • Geometry A: Geometry course with hands-on focus and minimal emphasis on proofs
    • Geometry: Common Core Geometry course
    • Intermediate Algebra: 2nd year UC Algebra course for non-math/science pathway
    • Advanced Algebra: 2nd year UC Algebra course with preparation for Pre-Calculus
    • Trigonometry/Statistics: One semester of Trigonometry and one semester of Statistics
    • Statistics: Full year high school statistics course
    • Pre-Calculus: Trigonometry and introduction to concepts needed for Calculus
    • AP Calculus AB: One semester of college-level Calculus course
    • AP Calculus BC: Two semesters of college-level Calculus course
    • AP Statistics: College-level Statistics course

      

    Students must earn a C- or better in the prerequisite course in order to move on in math the following school year. 

COURSE PATHWAYS

  •  Exhibit 6152.1: Tamalpais Union High School District 9th Grade Mathematics Placement Protocol 

    9th

    10th

    11th

    12th

    Geometry

    Honors Adv. Algebra
    Advanced Algebra

    Honors Pre-Calculus
    Pre-Calculus

    AP Calculus BC
    AP Calculus AB
    AP Stat or Stat
    Calculus

    AP Stat 

    Honors Pre-Calculus
    Pre-Calculus

    Algebra

    Geometry
    Geometry A

    Honors Adv. Algebra
    Advanced Algebra

    Honors Pre-Calculus
    Pre-Calculus
    AP Statistics
    Statistics or Trig/Stat

    Intermediate Algebra

    Statistics or Trig/Stat
    Advanced Algebra

    Algebra Foundations

    Algebra

    Geometry
    Geometry A

    Honors Adv. Algebra
    Advanced Algebra
    Intermediate Algebra
          

    Additional Notes

    • TUHSD Graduation Requirement: 3 years of math including one year of Algebra

    • UC/CSU Eligibility: Completion of Intermediate Algebra or higher (4 years recommended)

    • Incoming students are placed in math courses based on their current math class, transcript, and placement assessment scores.  

    • Students entering 9th grade above Geometry will choose a math pathway with their counselor and math teacher.

    • Certain courses may be taken concurrently with math department approval.  

    • Some students who complete Geometry in the 9th grade may be recommended for Algebra in the 10th grade.

    • Some courses are offered based on enrollment and may not be offered every year at every site.

    • For information about honors placement, click here: Honors Testing Information

    • We are unable to recommend any particular programs or private schools for mathematics acceleration, remediation, or other purposes. We believe our students are best served in our classrooms over the course of the school year, and therefore, we do not give recommendations for students to take courses outside of our district. We believe that a strong foundation of mathematical understanding and practices is best developed while in the TUHSD classroom with the expertise, guidance, and ongoing relationships developed with our teachers. Inquiries related to this will not be given a recommendation. 

     

CHANGES TO HONORS MATHEMATICS

  • TUHSD has made the following changes to the Honors Math Program: 

    • Honors Geometry will not be offered.
    • Current TUHSD students interested in Honors Advanced Algebra may seek information from their geometry teachers.
    • Incoming 9th-grade students that are enrolled in Advanced Algebra for 2022-23 will be contacted via email regarding Honors Advanced Algebra enrollment.

     

    Why have these changes been made?

    The TUHSD Math Task Force, with the consultation of TUHSD Math Teachers, Site Administration, and District Administration, recognizes that algebra is the foundation for success in all of our honors and college prep math courses. The TUHSD Math Department believes there is a need to strengthen students' current algebraic foundation and fill any algebra gaps while progressing through the geometry content.  Through differentiation, we believe our Geometry 1-2 course will continue to stretch and challenge students. Therefore, we will not be offering an Honors Geometry course.  

     

    A solid algebra foundation is needed to access the honors program and all higher-level math courses.  Students who have completed a full year of algebra and a full year of geometry already have experience with the depth of algebra needed for success in our Honors Advanced Algebra course.

     

    Historically, TUHSD has had several school years without offering an Honors Geometry course.  In those years, the absence of the Honors Geometry course did not negatively impact student access or success in Honors Advanced Algebra.  By contrast, a weak foundation in first-year algebra skills can negatively impact access and success to the higher-level math courses in which college-bound students are expected to excel.