1. + Culver City Middle School Honors & Acceleration

2. + Tonight’s Objectives Honors ELA Math Pathways and Placement Choosing Honors or Accelerated Foreign Language options Bio Honors for next year’s 8 th graders

3. + Purpose To provide challenging opportunities Allow students to grow in the area(s) that they have talents, gifts or interests Promote independence, high school and post secondary readiness In some cases, to move ahead with HS course completion

4. + English Language Arts Honors at every grade in ELA Students must complete summer assignments due first week of school Open access to students who are committed to the challenge This is a one year commitment

5. + Honors or not? Is ELA the child’s strength? Difference between honors and regular What else is the child balancing? Year-long commitment

6. + Math Pathways

7. + 6 th grade Math Options Math 6 Accelerated 6 (means 6 th and half of 7 th grade Common Core Math)

8. + 7 th grade Math Options Math 7 Accelerated 7 (means 7 th and half of 8 th grade Common Core Math) For students who have done exceptionally well in Math 6

9. + 8 th grade Math Options Math 8—This is the state recommended level for 8 th graders—students in Math 7 go to Math 8 Algebra 1—this is for students in Accelerated 7

10. + Math Placements-- Incoming 6th In past years, there was a placement test We have found data that correlates to student achievement CAASP/SBAC scores corresponds directly to grades Exceeds = A Meeting = B Nearly = C Not met = D Teacher recommendations were also strongly correlated 5 th grade report cards were also good indicator This year, we will use these three criterion to place students into Math 6 or Accel Math 6

11. + Incoming 6 th grade continued…. The recommendation is based on data and what you child has shown over the course of a year Should you have a question or concern about your child’s placement, that can be addressed at registration in August Asking your elemntary teacher to change the recommendation doesn’t necessarily change the placement We want to ensure that your child is successful and not stressed out or develop an aversion to math! We are here to work together!

12. + 7 th and 8 th grade placements Students in Math 6 that are earning a 88 or above will be invited to take a placement test to see if they should move to Accel 7 for 7 th grade If they do well, they will be recommended to take Accel. 7 th for 7 th grade—parents can always decline this recommendation Students in Accel. 6 (earning B or above) move to Accel. 7 Students in Math 7 move to Math 8 There will be no students who move from Math 7 to Algebra Students in Accel 7 (earning a B or above) will go to Algebra* ** Algebra is a HS course and is transcripted (colleges see this grade)

13. + How do I know which is the best pathway for my child??? Look at the data and the big picture Talk to the current teacher and talk to your child….. Try to think long term and not push students if it is not their strength

14. + Other opportunities for acceleration Foreign language Science

15. + Foreign Language 7 th or 8 th graders can take a one semester Spanish or Japanese class to prepare for 7 th grade—highly recommended 8 th graders can take HS level Spanish I or Japanese I This allows them to move to Level II with successful completion of B or better (students will be assessed at the end of the course for HS placement) Fulfills the E requirement on A-G requirements for college admissions Earn 10 HS credits, transcripted

16. + SCIENCE 8 th grade option: Biology Honors at CCHS Taken on the CCHS campus (this means there are HS students in the class with 8 th graders) Course is everyday (Zero period which begins at 7:05 a.m. everyday), HW everyday Kids must be prepared to carry the textbook! This is a student who is highly committed to at least an hour (or so) each night of HW

17. + Bio H continued…. This is for a very select group of students who meet criteria 7 th grade teacher recommendation, all As in Science grades 6/7 a 3.75 overall GPA Concurrent enrollment in at least Algebra Has a propensity to problem solve, strong work ethic, resilience and a general inquiry based framework towards Biology Replaces their 8 th grade Science course HS level, 10 credits transcripted

18. + DROP POLICY ON HS LEVEL COURSES (Bio H, Japanese & Spanish I) Changes can be made the first week of school— this requires coordination with the HS if it is Bio H Start at the MS with the counselor and the counselor will then work with the HS In weeks 2-20, students who drop a HS level course (even if taken on the MS campus) students will receive a F/Drop on the transcript—COLLEGES WILL SEE THIS Changes will only be able if there are alternate courses available

19. + Thank you so much for attending Middle School counselors are in the MPR tonight to answer questions for you! Teachers can also shed some light on the expectations tonight If you have in depth, personalized questions, please request a conference