Scarsdale Middle School

All sixth-grade math classes are heterogeneously grouped. Opportunities for advancement begin at the end of sixth grade.

Course Placement Process- Grade 6 into Grade 7: Placements for the seventh grade are made by the sixth-grade teacher and shared with parents via Infinite Campus in June. Each house has one section of Math 7-1 and three sections of Math 7-2.  Please visit the curriculum page for more information about these courses.

When making recommendations for the higher-level math course (Math 7-2), in addition to consistent, high-level performance, teachers look for these attributes in their students:

• Displays self-advocacy skills (voluntarily seeking help and clarification when needed)
• Able to independently initiate and sustain working on math tasks
• Possesses an enjoyment and enthusiasm for the “challenges” of higher-level problem-solving tasks
• Willingness to take mathematical risks
• Able to work collaboratively in groups to perform problem-solving tasks
• Able to communicate mathematical thinking and understanding
• Exhibits resilience and a willingness to persist when faced with difficulty or struggle
• Can view problems from multiple perspectives with multiple ways to solve
• Displays reasoning capabilities that have shifted from a concrete to an abstract nature 

There are no overrides for courses at Scarsdale Middle School. However, sixth-grade students who are placed into Math 7-1, but wish to be placed into Math 7-2 may request a placement test provided they have a B or above average for the year. A score of 85% or higher on the placement exam is required to be placed into Math 7-2. The exam will be given in August by the middle school department chair. Please contact the sixth-grade math teacher to discuss this option. A form requesting the placement exam must be received by July 15.

The 7th-grade teacher can also use their discretion to move students between courses within the grade level during the school year. These discussions will involve the teacher, student, and family. Please see the section on “level changes” below. 

For some truly exceptional students, skipping a year in math is an option.  Students who wish to skip the 7th-grade math course should begin this process by conversing with their 6th-grade math teacher. The student must have an average in the A range or above in Math 6 and exhibit appropriate classroom behavior and study habits to be successful in the higher grade course. Additionally, it is essential that the student has high executive functioning skills and is academically and emotionally mature. Skipping a grade level in math often comes with significant disruptions to a student’s schedule in seventh and eighth grade, and students are in classrooms with their older peers. The student will likely take math in another house, and it is even possible that this placement may necessitate a house change.

Assessments are given in August at the middle school for students wishing to skip seventh-grade math. All applications for the exam must be received by July 15. The exam has 25 questions; the student has 90 minutes to complete it with a scientific calculator. A score of 85% or above must be achieved to skip seventh-grade math. If successful, the student will be placed into Math 8-3 as a seventh grader. Students who successfully skip a grade level in math may not return to the previous course. No assessments to skip math will be provided once the school year has started. Applications for these assessments can be obtained through the math teacher or house counselor. It is also understood that the qualifying exam will not be shared, data for students will not be shared, and student results are final.

Course Placement Process- Grade 7 into Grade 8: 

The seventh-grade teacher makes placements, which are shared with parents via Infinite Campus at the end of June. Each House has one section of Math 8-1, two sections of Math 8-2, and one section of Math 8-3. See the “curriculum information” page for more information about each course.

There are no course overrides at Scarsdale Middle School. However, there are two placement test opportunities for seventh-grade students.

• If a student is placed into Math 8-2, but wishes to be placed into Math 8-3, they may request a placement test provided they have an A- or above average for the year and score 90% or higher on the final exam. A score of 85% or higher on the placement exam is required to be placed into Math 8-3. The exam will be given in August by the middle school department chair. Please get in touch with the seventh-grade math teacher to discuss this option. A form requesting the placement exam must be received by July 15.
• If a student is placed into Math 8-1, but wishes to be placed into Math 8-2, they may request a placement test, provided they have a B+ or above average for the year and score 85% or higher on the final exam. A score of 85% or higher on the placement exam is required to be placed into Math 8-2. The exam will be given in August by the middle school department chair. Please contact the seventh-grade math teacher to discuss this option. A form requesting the placement exam must be received by July 15.

The 8th-grade teacher can also use their discretion to move students between courses within the grade level during the school year. These discussions will involve the teacher, student, and family. Please see the section on “level changes” below. 

Students who wish to skip Math 8-2/8-3 (Algebra 1) and take Geometry 424 as an 8th-grade student must receive the recommendation of their seventh-grade teacher and sit for the placement exam. All applications for the exam must be received by June 15 and should be directed to the Scarsdale High School Math Department Chair. The student has two hours to complete the exam with a scientific calculator, not a graphing calculator. A score of 85% or above must be achieved to be placed into 424 as an 8th-grade student. If successful, the student must also sit for the Algebra 1 Regents exam as an eighth grader the following June at SMS. Please note that the Geometry 424 course is NOT offered at SMS. Students will be bused to SHS and will have modifications made to their middle school schedule.

Course Placement Process- Grade 8 into High School: 

These placements are made by the eighth-grade teacher and discussed during the high school course conference in the Spring of eighth grade.  All placements are reevaluated in June. Please visit the high school course catalog for descriptions of each math course.

Math 8-1:  Upon completing this course, students will be eligible to enter the ninth-grade Regents Algebra 1 course (Math 412).

Math 8-2:  Upon completing this course, students will be recommended for either Math 422 or 423 (Geometry). 

Math 8-3:  Upon completing this course, students will be recommended for Math 423 (Geometry) or Math 424 (Honors Geometry).

High school policy allows for overrides from 422 to 423, however, there are no overrides for 4-level courses (424). The student may request a placement exam to test into 424 by completing the required form available from their House Counselor by June 15. To make this request, the student must have the recommendation of their eighth-grade teacher and a minimum average of A- in Math 8-2 or B+ in Math 8-3.