Math Department K-12

Summer practice packets

At Shen, our math curriculum is based on the the New York State Standards. The standards are robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills needed for success in college and careers.

The standards in mathematics places the focus on balancing fluency, understanding and problem solving. The number of topics taught at each grade level is reduced so that more time can be spent learning the concepts in more depth.

NYS Assessments

All students in grades 3 through 8 are required to take the NYS assessment in mathematics to identify students who are not meeting the state standards and provide those students with the help they need to be on grade level. These are typically given in April.

NYS Regents Exams are given in Integrated Algebra, Geometry, and Algebra Two/Trigonometry. For a Regents diploma, students must achieve a 65 on any math Regents exam.

Elementary School Math

The expectation at the elementary level is to develop a strong understanding of number sense and operations through concrete representation, pictorial representation, strategies involving place value and properties of arithmetic, and lastly standard algorithm. Each grade level will also focus on developing fluency of number facts. Other areas of content are; geometry, measurement, and, statistics and probability.

Students will experience the content through the Standards for Mathematical Practice: make sense of problems and persevere in solving them; reason abstractly and quantitatively; construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others; model with mathematics; use appropriate tools strategically; and attend to precision. Students will begin to see mathematics as sensible and useful and develop a belief in diligence and one’s own efficacy.

    Students who demonstrate higher abilities in math are challenged through enrichment and acceleration programming. In gr. 4 and 5, the district has an enrichment program called QUEST. Beginning at the elementary level, students may be evaluated for possible acceleration in mathematics. This is for students who demonstrate a math talent well beyond the enriched classroom curriculum.

    Middle School Math

    In the middle school, demanding, higher order thinking skills is the focus of the mathematics program based on the NYS Standards. The focus is to improve the problem-solving and reasoning abilities of the students, while continuing to refine their understanding of mathematical skills and concepts.

    Students demonstrating a high ability in math are challenged through a wide range of honors, enrichment and acceleration options. Beginning in grade 7, there is an honors level for math. Middle school students can be evaluated for possible acceleration in mathematics.

      High School Math 

      Shenendehowa High School offers a variety of courses and sequences for math to challenge students within their abilities. We provide a strong mathematical foundation for students so they are well prepared for college and/or a career.

      At the high school, students are challenged in math through a wide range of honors, acceleration and Advanced Placement courses.

        Graduation requirements

        In order to graduate with a Regents/Advanced Regents Diploma, students must take and pass 3 units (a year-long course) in math.

        For a Regents Diploma, students must achieve a minimum score of 65 on any Regents Math Exam. For an Advanced Regents Diploma, students must achieve a minimum score of 65 on the Integrated Algebra (typically taken in grade 9), Geometry (typically taken in grade 10), and Algebra Two/Trigonometry (typically taken in grade 11) exams.

        Students struggling in Math

        For learners struggling in math, the district uses a Response-to-Intervention process that matches instructional interventions to students’ specific skill deficits. Progress is closely monitored and changes in instruction are based on data collected from on-going assessment.  Students are identified for Academic Intervention Services (AIS) in math based on their performance on the gr. 3-8 state exams. Students who score in Performance Levels 1 and 2 are eligible to receive AIS in math.