Math Department

In SAU 70 mathematics classrooms, all children, at developmentally appropriate levels, are learning:

to value mathematics,
to see connections within mathematics,
to see connections between mathematics and other areas,
to be confident in their ability to do mathematics,
to become mathematical problem solvers,
to communicate mathematically, and
to reason mathematically.

This is accomplished and assessed in classrooms where:

inquiry is valued,
discourse and discussion of mathematical ideas are part of the teaching and learning process,
tools—including manipulatives, calculators, and computers—are used appropriately to support the understanding of mathematical ideas, and
communities of learners of mathematics are created.

Students K-12 develop skills in and conceptual understanding of:

numbers and operations,
data analysis and probability,
patterns and algebra,
geometry and spatial sense,
and measurement.

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At Hanover High School, the Math Department offers 20 courses.

Click here to access our Math Department Flowchart, which illustrates how students may move among our courses.

Click here to visit the Program of Studies, which describes our courses in greater detail.

Placement for Rising 9th Graders

9th graders choose among both STEM Skills and Algebra 1, 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 both STEM Skills and Algebra 1 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 STEM Skills 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)"

Personal Finance Literacy Graduation Requirement

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:

Earning Income
Spending
Saving
Investing
Managing Credit
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:

Take Personal Finance in addition to their full-year course, for a total of three-semesters-worth (1.5 credits) of math
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.