Goff Middle School offers accelerated programs in science and math. The criteria for placement are provided below.
Accelerated Science
At the end of 6th grade, students will have the opportunity to be selected into the accelerated science program based on the following guidelines and process:
Guidelines for Consideration:
- Students must have a final average in 6th grade science of a 92% Students must have a final average in 6th grade mathematics of a 90%
- Students must perform at a high level in 6th grade ELA
- Students must receive a positive teacher recommendation addressing work ethic and ability to succeed in an accelerated science course
- Students must take a science placement test after submission of personal essay
Process:
The following schedule will be followed to select those students who will enter the accelerated science program in 7th grade.
- March – Letters sent home to parents of all 6th grade students who have averages in science of a 92% or higher and mathematics of 90% or higher. This letter will invite students to apply for the accelerated science program that will begin in 7th grade.
- April – Personal essay is due (Date TBD) and teacher recommendations are gathered.
- June – Placement test is administered after 6th grade final exam in science. (Date TBD)
- June/July – Final decisions are made for students who are entering the program and letters are sent home notifying the parents and student.
- Students who are selected but do not maintain the required criteria by the end of 6th grade will be dropped from the accelerated program over the summer and placed in regular Science 7.
Students who are chosen for the accelerated course have several checkpoints (week 5, week 10, week 15, week 20, and week 40) during the accelerated Science 7 course. Students that are not meeting established criteria may be removed from the accelerated Science 7 course at week 20 and enrolled in a regular Science 7 course.
Students who successfully completed the Science 7 accelerated course will enter the Earth Science R course as eighth graders. Again, there are checkpoints at week 5, week 10, week 15 and week 20. Students who are not meeting the established criteria at week 20 may be removed from the Earth Science R course and enrolled in a Science 8 course.
Students who do not meet the end of year criteria (week 40) for the Science 7 accelerated course will enroll in Science 8 as eighth graders rather than the Earth Science course.
It is important to remember that both the accelerated Science 7 course and the eighth grade Regents Earth Science course are accelerated courses and not Honors courses.
COLUMBIA HIGH SCHOOL
Students who complete Earth Science R in eighth grade will be enrolled in either Honors Biology (Living Environment R) or Living Environment R in ninth grade.
At the end of 8th grade there is a review of student grades and progress to determine 9th grade placement in science course.
- If a student’s academic progress/science coursework/performance is deemed unsatisfactory, having a final average below an 85% and/or is missing laboratory reports, the student will no longer be in the accelerated science program and will be placed in non-accelerated, non-honors, 9th grade science course.
- If a student’s academic progress/science coursework/performance is deemed satisfactory, having a final average of 85% or higher, completed all laboratory reports, achieved a 90%+ on the Earth Science Regents Examination and received a positive teacher recommendation, the student will be considered for Honors Biology in 9th grade.
For future years at the high school, some science courses have prerequisites. Students that start in the Honors program may continue to enroll in Honors/AP science courses all four years if they meet the course prerequisites. We expect any student who completed Earth Science R in eighth grade to enroll in science courses during all four years of his/her high school career. After 10th grade, students entering their junior year of high school have several options of science courses that they could take but ideally we would like them to take physics in their junior year. If their schedule allows, some students will take two science courses in their junior year to go on to take an additional science course in their senior year. There are many AP science courses for students to take, enrollment into those courses depends on several factors from prerequisites to a students post secondary plans.
A typical sequence for an accelerated science student would be:
- 9th Grade: Honors Biology (Living Environment R)
- 10th Grade: Honors Chemistry (Chemistry R)
- 11th Grade: Physics R and/or an AP or science elective courses
- 12th Grade: One or two AP and/or science elective courses
7th Grade Accelerated Math
- Students must have a final average in Math 6 of at least 94%
- Students must receive a positive recommendation from Math 6 teacher addressing work ethic, critical thinking and problem solving skills, and the ability to succeed in an accelerated mathematics course
- Eligible students must write and submit a statement of interest indicating their interest in pursuing placement in the accelerated mathematics program
- Eligible students must sit for a district placement test Placement test will contain topics for both sixth and seventh grade mathematics
- Students must score at or above designated achievement level, which will be determined upon review of all exams
To remain in Grade 7 Accelerated Math, students must meet the following requirements:
- The grade 7 Accelerated Math Teacher will review the student’s progress at Week 5. If the student is deemed unsatisfactory (average which is less than 87%) a warning form letter will be sent home to the parents reminding them of the criteria for their child to continue in this accelerated course.
- At the end of week 10 (Q1), the grade 7 Accelerated Math Teacher will review the student’s progress. If the student is deemed unsatisfactory (average which is less than 87%) a warning form letter will be sent home to the parents, as well as a request for a parent conference. At this meeting, the teacher will remind the parents of the criteria for their child to continue in this accelerated course, review the unsatisfactory work, and recommend remediation strategies. The parents will sign off on a form letter indicating that the meeting had taken place, and agreeing to support the remediation plan.
- The grade 7 Accelerated Math Teacher will review the student’s progress at Week 15. If the student is deemed unsatisfactory (average which is less than 87%) a warning form letter will be sent home to the parents reminding them of the criteria for their child to continue in this accelerated course.
- At the end of week 20 (Q2), the grade 7 Accelerated Math Teacher will review the student’s progress. If the student is deemed unsatisfactory (average which is less than 87%–average includes Q1, Q2 and A1 (if given) the student will be removed from the class and will be enrolled into a grade 7 regular math course for the remainder of the school year.
- At the end of the year, the grade 7 Accelerated Math Teacher will review the student’s progress.
- If the student is deemed unsatisfactory (final average which is less than 87%), the student will be enrolled in the grade 8 regular math course for the following school year.
- If the student is deemed satisfactory (final average which is greater than or equal to 87%), the student will be enrolled in the Algebra I Regents class in grade 8.
Algebra Math in 8th Grade
- Students who have a final average of 95% in 7th grade regular math
- Students must receive a positive recommendation from Math 7 teacher addressing work ethic, critical thinking and problem solving skills, and the ability to succeed in an accelerated mathematics course
- Eligible students must write and submit a statement of interest indicating their interest in pursuing placement in the 8th Grade Algebra mathematics program
- Eligible students must sit for a district placement test
- Placement test will contain topics for both seventh and eighth grade mathematics
- Students must score at or above designated achievement level, which will be determined upon review of all exams
- Materials will be provided to parents with ample time to prepare their child for the placement exam. Students need to receive a score of an 85% to be accepted into the class, provided seats are available.
To remain in Grade 8 Accelerated Math, students must meet the following requirements:
- The grade 8 Accelerated Math Teachers will review the student’s progress at Week 5. If the student is deemed unsatisfactory (average which is less than 85%) a warning form letter will be sent home to the parents reminding them of the criteria for their child to continue in this accelerated course.
- At the end of week 10 (Q1), the grade 8 Accelerated Math Teacher will review the student’s progress. If the student is deemed unsatisfactory (average which is less than 85%) a warning form letter will be sent home to the parents, as well as a request for a parent conference. At this meeting, the teacher will remind the parents of the criteria for their child to continue in this accelerated course, review the unsatisfactory work, and recommend remediation strategies. The parents will sign off on a form letter indicating that the meeting had taken place, and agreeing to support the remediation plan.
- The grade 8 Accelerated Math Teacher will review the student’s progress at Week 15. If the student is deemed unsatisfactory (average which is less than 85%) a warning form letter will be sent home to the parents reminding them of the criteria for their child to continue in this accelerated course.
- At the end of week 20 (Q2), the grade 8 Accelerated Math Teacher will review the student’s progress. If the student is deemed unsatisfactory (average which is less than 85%—that includes Q1, Q2 and A1) the student will be removed from the class and enrolled into a grade 8 regular math course for the remainder of the school year.
- At the end of the year, the grade 8 Accelerated Math Teacher will review the student’s progress.
- If the student is deemed unsatisfactory (final average which is less than 90%), the student will be enrolled in the Geometry Regents course for the following school year in grade 9.
- If the student is deemed satisfactory (final average which is greater than or equal to 90%), the student will be considered for the Geometry Honors class in grade 9. Additional factors that will be used to determine placement include: score on Algebra I (Common Core) Regents Examination, performance on qualifying exam, and teacher recommendation. Students not enrolled in the Honors-level course will be enrolled in the Regents-level course.
This criterion will be strictly enforced to maintain the validity and efficacy of the program