Math Placement (7th-8th Grade)

Curriculum development in the Kirkwood School District typically takes place about every six years. This ensures the curriculum is up-to-date, aligns with the most current standards, and reflects recent research to support learning. Specific to middle school math, KSD had additional goals for our work to align curriculum and programming across our middle and high schools, ensure Algebra I is available to students for high school credit while in middle school, maintain current opportunities for formal acceleration in math and provide all students with a path toward high-level math coursework in high school.

Skills are based on the standards set by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Specifically, we are utilizing the DESE Math 8 Priority Standards.

Students are not expected to prepare for the assessment or to know the Math 8 curriculum.  However, for students wishing to prepare for the assessment, the following resources may be helpful: 

• Khan Academy 8^th Grade Math
• IXL, focusing on 8th Grade Standards (this is available on student devices through Classlink)
• Math 8 study sessions during Math Labs will be offered at both middle schools beginning second quarter.

Students who take Math 8 and have a goal to take Calculus before they graduate from high school have a few options to ensure they meet their goal. This includes choosing to double up on math courses in high school and/or utilize Launch courses during summer to enhance their learning.  For example, students taking Algebra I in 9th grade who want to take Calculus as a senior could potentially take both Geometry and Algebra II as a sophomore. 

Please note that students interested in doubling up should consult with their math teacher and/or counselor for more information.  Doubling up is not the norm, nor is it typically recommended, but it can be an option under the right circumstances.  

The number or percentage of students in each class will depend on the results of the placement process and/or number of students who opt to take Math 8 Launch over the summer.

These students will take Honors Geometry in 8th grade and will not need to take the placement test to assess their comprehension of Math 8 standards.

Students who take either of these courses in 8^th grade will be on track to meet post secondary and/or university and college academic requirements.

Families wanting to know more about math classes at KHS are encouraged to review the KHS Course Description Guide (page 28).  You can also read more about course curricula on our curriculum website.

KHS offers some virtual coursework via the Pioneer eLearning Academy (PeLA), and a number of math courses are available through Launch.  That being said, we strongly encourage all students to take math coursework in person, whenever possible.  This is especially true during the summer months, when a year-long course may be condensed into eight weeks of intensive learning in June and July.  Virtual learning is better suited to the needs of some students than others, and we encourage students to consult with math teachers and/or counselors before enrolling in online coursework. 

Students who successfully complete each unit of the summer course will be placed into Algebra I.

Our goal is to make sure that each student is placed in the math course that is appropriate for their current skill level. Students need to demonstrate proficiency of the Math 8 priority standards in order to be placed into Algebra I. Students who do not pass the Math 8 placement assessment may also take Math 8 through Launch this summer. 

All students will be given an 85-minute testing window to complete the assessment. Students who receive extended time as an accommodation per their IEP or 504 will be given that opportunity. 

The assessment questions were created using the district-adopted resource, used to support the delivery of middle school math curriculum, and released 8th-grade MAP questions. All selected questions are directly tied to the Math 8 Missouri priority standards.

There are several tools available to help your 7th grader study for the assessment. Students will have some dedicated time during the school day to study. We will also offer Math Labs after school as a way your child can study with the support of a certified math teacher. In addition to these opportunities, we are providing an IXL study tool sheet and a practice test. This practice test is not a comprehensive list of questions and skills to study, but more a tool to help students understand the types of questions they will encounter on the placement assessment.

The online Math 8 course will be asynchronous in nature, taught by a certified math teacher. Students will have regular opportunities to connect with the teacher during office hours, asking questions and getting support, as needed. We will share more information about the summer course as it becomes available.

Yes. Students who do well in Math 8 during 8th grade and in Algebra I during 9th grade are eligible to take honors math courses at the high school level.

The assessment does not measure aptitude, but instead asks students to demonstrate an understanding of Math 8 priority standards. Even for students that typically show an aptitude for math, it will require extra Math Labs and/or the Math 8 summer Launch course for students to show proficiency in Math 8 standards.  Our revised Algebra I course requires students to have proficiency in Math 8 Priority Standards in order to be successful.