Math Department

"Challenge paths" are roads rarely taken by students and require extraordinary effort on a student's part. See below for what each "challenge path" entails, and then speak with your Math Teacher and the Math Department Coordinator to confirm your interest.

Algebra 1 to Geometry Honors:

• Earn an A grade for both semesters of Algebra 1
• Complete algebra skills work over the summer

Geometry to Algebra 2 Honors (Note: This process aligns with the prerequisites for students taking Geometry Honors in person at HHS):

• Over the summer, take the Geometry Honors Semester 1 Exam; if the student earns a B (83%) or higher without a curve on the S1 Exam, take the Geometry Honors Semester 2 Exam (either on the same day or shortly thereafter)
  • In order to have enough time to work with the Counseling Department to adjust a student's placement, both exams must be taken at least a week before the start of the school year
• If the student earns a B (83%) or higher without a curve on the S2 Exam, the student may enroll in Algebra 2 Honors
• If the student scores lower than a B on the S1 Exam, the student may not enroll in Algebra 2 Honors and we will not administer the S2 Exam
• If the student earns a B (83%) or higher without a curve on the S1 Exam and scores lower than a B on the S2 Exam, the student may not enroll in Algebra 2 Honors

Algebra 2 to Precalculus Honors (Note: This process aligns with the prerequisites for students taking Algebra 2 Honors in person at HHS):

• Over the summer, take the Algebra 2 Honors Semester 1 Exam; if the student earns a B (83%) or higher without a curve on the S1 Exam, take the Algebra 2 Honors Semester 2 Exam (either on the same day or shortly thereafter)
  • In order to have enough time to work with the Counseling Department to adjust a student's placement, both exams must be taken at least a week before the start of the school year
• If the student earns a B (83%) or higher without a curve on the S2 Exam, the student may enroll in Precalculus Honors
• If the student scores lower than a B on the S1 Exam, the student may not enroll in Precalculus Honors and we will not administer the S2 Exam
• If the student earns a B (83%) or higher without a curve on the S1 Exam and scores lower than a B on the S2 Exam, the student may not enroll in Precalculus Honors

Advanced Mathematics to Calculus 1 Honors:

• Earn an A grade for both semesters of Advanced Mathematics
• Receive a teacher recommendation

Important notes:

• Being able to move into a different class is contingent upon space being available in the class. For example, a student might complete the "challenge path" to move into Precalculus Honors and space might not be available in Precalculus Honors, or the times when Precalculus Honors is offered might force the student to change the other classes in which they are enrolled.
• The "teacher recommendation override form" is not applicable to "challenge paths."

The "algebra skills work" prerequisite shows up in a few places on our flowchart:

1. From Geometry Honors to Algebra 2 Honors
2. From Algebra 1 to Geometry
3. From Geometry to Algebra 2

We have this prerequisite in place since we as a department believe deeply in developing a solid foundation in algebra. We want students to be as successful as possible as they move through their math courses, and additional time and practice with foundational algebra skills can help students do just that! Furthermore, we provide this work over the summer to help address the learning loss that often occurs during this time.

As is the case with all prerequisites indicated on our flowchart, failure to complete the algebra skills work over the summer means that a student is not eligible for a particular path. In particular:

1. The placement for a student who completed Geometry Honors and satisfied the other prerequisites listed on our flowchart but who does not complete the algebra skills work over the summer will switch from Algebra 2 Honors to Algebra 2.
2. The placement for a student who completed Algebra 1 with a passing grade below a C but who does not complete the algebra skills work over the summer will switch from Geometry back to Algebra 1.
3. The placement for a student who completed Geometry with a passing grade below a C but who does not complete the algebra skills work over the summer will switch from Algebra 2 back to Geometry.

Near the end of the school year, students' second semester teachers will help them access the algebra skills work via the DeltaMath platform. We purposefully start the algebra skills work after the school year concludes so that students can focus on the classes in which they are enrolled while they are enrolled in them!

The Math Department does not recommend that a student take an online course concurrently with an in-person course. It is a lot to comprehend at once! We would rather see this student focus on one course—their in-person course—so that their skills and understandings are rock solid. Each course in a sequence provides an important foundation for subsequent courses. Skimping on one's learning in any way could prove disastrous for future courses—particularly for a student that wants to excel!

The Math Department does not recommend that a student take an online course over the summer in order to advance to a higher-level course in the fall. It is a lot to comprehend through a medium that many students find challenging. We would rather see this student focus on practicing the skills they learned during the school year and deepening their understanding of the content they covered. Skimping on one's deep understanding in any way could prove disastrous for future courses—particularly for a student that wants to excel!

Yes—a student can take a course at Dartmouth once the student has "exhausted all possible classes within their field of interest at their high school." In addition, the Dartmouth course cannot overlap with a course offered at HHS that the student has not yet taken. Specifically:

• A student can take a math course at Dartmouth after the completion of Math Modeling Honors and Probability and Statistics Honors.
• A student can take a computer science course at Dartmouth after the completion of Computer Science 1 and the completion of two semesters in one or more of the following courses: Data Science, Digital and Graphic Arts, DIY CAD and Prototyping, DIY Electronics and Coding, and Engineering Design.

For more information, please speak your high school counselor and see https://admissions.dartmouth.edu/apply/counselors/community-high-school-program.

9th graders choose among Introduction to Algebra,  Algebra 1, Geometry, Geometry Honors, and Algebra 2 Honors. A student’s placement is determined through a recommendation from their present math teacher and/or the completion of a placement test. (Placement into more advanced courses is possible when a present math teacher advises.)

Enrollment in Introduction to Algebra is for students who do not have a solid understanding of +, –, x, ÷, fractions, decimals, percents, and signed numbers. You might understand some of these things, but overall you have trouble remembering what to do when given a problem. Algebraic topics^† will be previewed in Introduction to Algebra to help lay the foundation for success in Algebra 1.

Algebra 1 is for students who have a solid understanding of +, –, x, ÷, fractions, decimals, percents, and signed numbers.

A 2nd year of Algebra 1 is for students who have a solid understanding of +, –, x, ÷, fractions, decimals, percents, and signed numbers and who do not have a solid understanding of algebraic topics^†. If your cumulative average on assessments is 79% or below in Algebra 1 this year, you should take a second year of Algebra 1.

Geometry is for students who have a solid understanding of algebraic topics^†. If your cumulative average on assessments is 80% or above in Algebra 1 this year, you should take Geometry.

Geometry Honors is for students who (A) enjoy math and problem solving, (B) have an exceptional work ethic, and (C) have a rock-solid understanding of algebraic topics^†. This class is challenging and can be frustrating for students that do not enjoy math. Honors-level classes also expect a large amount of independence and personal responsibility. If your cumulative average on assessments is 93% or above in Algebra 1 this year and you like (or love!) math, you should take Geometry Honors.

Algebra 2 Honors is for students who (A) enjoy math and problem solving, (B) have an exceptional work ethic, and (C) have a rock-solid understanding of the algebraic topics^† covered in Algebra 1 and the geometric topics covered in Geometry. This class is challenging and can be frustrating for students that do not enjoy math. Honors-level classes also expect a large amount of independence and personal responsibility. If your cumulative average on assessments is 85% or above in Geometry Honors this year and you had an A in Algebra 1, you should take Algebra 2 Honors. Many students are recommended to take a 2nd year of Algebra 1 or Geometry/Geometry Honors instead of Algebra 2 Honors.

^† Per the Program of Studies, "Algebra 1 is based on the Illustrative Mathematics Algebra 1 curriculum. The topics covered in this course include:

• One-variable statistics (measures of center and variability; comparing and contrasting data distributions; the effects of outliers)
• Two-variable statistics (two-way tables; scatter plots; correlation coefficients)
• Linear equations, inequalities, and systems (solving linear equations and inequalities; graphing linear equations and inequalities; solving systems of linear equations and inequalities)
• Functions (function notation; domain and range; piecewise functions; absolute value functions; inverse functions)
• Quadratic equations (graphing quadratic equations from factored, standard, and vertex forms; solving quadratic equations by factoring, completing the square, and the quadratic formula)"

Starting in the 2023-2024 school year, new legislation passed by the State of New Hampshire requires personal finance literacy to be taught as a standalone course of study. More information is available in the New Hampshire Department of Education's Personal Finance Literacy Technical Advisory.

What is personal finance literacy?

Per the Technical Advisory, the New Hampshire DoE "will provide more detail on what personal finance literacy should encompass as a course of instruction."

In 2021, the Jump$tart Coalition and Council for Economic Education developed National Standards for Personal Finance Education, which are organized around six topics:

1. Earning Income
2. Spending
3. Saving
4. Investing
5. Managing Credit
6. Managing Risk

What does personal finance literacy look like at HHS?

The Math Department offers a one-semester-long Personal Finance course. Here is what past students have said about the course:

• "One of the most useful math courses I have taken because I can see how it would apply directly to my life."
• "There's a good blend of classwork and information and I am usually able to get most of my work done in class."
• "I really like the investment portfolio and learning how to invest my money in the future."
• "I like that there are lots of discussions. I like when we move around to do activities."
• "It doesn't seem taxes are so hard after all."

See the Program of Studies for more information.

When is HHS' Personal Finance course offered and for which students?

Personal Finance is offered every semester and open to seniors. We highly encourage all seniors to enroll in Personal Finance. (Alternatives exist to meet this graduation requirement, per the information below.)

Juniors may seek to enroll in Personal Finance; however, priority will be given to seniors. 9th graders and sophomores are not eligible to enroll in Personal Finance.

What if I am already planning to take two semesters worth of math during my senior year?

Some seniors choose to enroll in Personal Finance as well as another, one-semester-long math elective (for example, Probability and Statistics).

Other seniors choose to enroll in a full-year course (for example, Algebra 2, Advanced Mathematics, or Calculus). These seniors have two options:

1. Take Personal Finance in addition to their full-year course, for a total of three-semesters-worth (1.5 credits) of math
2. Take Personal Finance in the second semester in place of the second half of the full-year course, for a total of two-semesters-worth (1 credit) of math

Are there alternative courses to HHS' Personal Finance course?

Students may also enroll in personal finance literacy courses through online schools. Of note, VLACS offers a Personal Finance Literacy course, and CCV offers a Personal Finance course.

Students who chose to complete this graduation requirement via an online course are required to turn their transcript into their school counselor so that the course may be added to their official high school transcript.

Students in the Business Administration program at HACTC also meet the graduation requirement through dual enrollment in their senior year in RVCC's Personal Financial Management course.