HiCap in the Middle School

Middle School AAP

Advanced Academic Program (AAP) is offered to Highly Capable students at all middle schools for sixth, seventh, and eighth grade. 

AAP provides eligible students an opportunity for advanced-level work with students who share their academic ability and interest. Students take AAP classes in English, social studies and science. Math course enrollment is based on the student's academic and test history. All middle school students will attend their neighborhood school regardless of Highly Capable qualification. 

AAP provides eligible students an opportunity for advanced-level work with students of similar academic ability. Students qualified for AAP have met rigorous thresholds for qualification through a data portfolio including standardized academic achievement, creativity and cognitive measures of potential. 

AAP is typically a self-contained classroom for core content areas including English, social studies, science and math. Students qualified for Highly Capable services in reading are enrolled in AAP English and AAP Social Studies. Students qualified for Highly Capable services in math will be enrolled in AAP Science and a math course that best fits their ability level. 

Middle School Math

What math class will my student take in 6th grade?

Math course enrollment is based on multiple factors beyond a student's Highly Capable qualification. Fifth grade students receiving highly capable instruction and acceleration in math will be placed in Algebra as sixth graders. Fifth grade students who qualify for highly capable services in math through the highly capable assessment process in fifth grade will be placed in Pre-Algebra 2 in 6th grade. 

If your student struggled to engage in math this year as a fifth grader in a highly capable math setting, you may wish to delay Algebra placement and instead choose Pre-Algebra 2 for your student's sixth grade year. You may talk to your student's middle school counselor about this option, preferably before the end of your student's 5th grade school year. Alternatively, you may choose to help your student develop the pre-algebra skills needed for Algebra in 6th grade by doing one of the following:

  • Your student may enroll in the Pre-Algebra 2 Math summer school course through Northshore School District. This summer school course focuses on the skills and concepts students should master to be successful in Algebra. 

  • Your student may enroll in a Pre-Algebra 1 and/or Pre-Algebra 2 summer school course through another provider. The course should focus on pre-algebra skills and concepts that prepare students for Algebra 1. 

  • Your student may complete the Get Ready for Algebra 1 course on Khan Academy. This free online course focuses on the skills and concepts students need to be successful in Algebra 1. 

What math class will my student take in 7th grade?
If a student tests into highly capable math services in grade 6, they do NOT move directly to Algebra in 7th grade. They have just completed Pre-Algebra 1 and would move into Pre-Algebra 2 in 7th grade. The math designation currently adds AAP science, but does not alter the math trajectory.

For information regarding your student's math course enrollment, we recommend contacting their assigned middle school counselor. 

More information on math can be found on our Math Department pages. 

5th to 6th Grade Math Transition - HiCap Math services beginning in 6th grade

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5th to 6th Grade Math Transition - Began receiving HiCap Math services in 5th grade or before

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Students who qualify for highly capable math in 5th grade, may also choose to take Pre-Algebra 1 in 6th grade rather than accelerating. More information about math pathways and what math courses your student can take is available on the NSD Mathematics page.

 

What is covered in Pre-Algebra 1?

  • Apply and extend previous understandings of multiplication and division to divide fractions by fractions
  • Apply and extend previous understandings of numbers to the system of rational numbers
  • Understand ratio concepts and use ratio reasoning to solve problems
  • Apply and extend previous understandings of arithmetic to algebraic expressions
  • Reason about and solve one-variable equations and inequalities
  • Represent and analyze quantitative relationships between dependent and independent variables

 

Additional Resources

More information regarding middle school math can be found on the Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment (CIA) Department's website: Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment. 

If your student wants to sharpen their math skills over the summer, the CIA Department recommends these online tools: