REL Northwest and Tacoma Public Schools are conducting a mixed methods, applied research study to understand high school student math coursetaking patterns and how those patterns are correlated with later high school math success. In this 2023–2026 project, REL Northwest collects and analyzes qualitative and quantitative data to increase Tacoma Public Schools’ capacity to improve math experiences for all high school students and ensure that all learners are supported throughout their math education.
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Related Work
How can guidance counselors, principals, and district math leaders make sure students get placed in the right math classes for their first year of high school? It is essential to share information about available math courses and pathways with grade 8 students, families, and teachers at feeder middle schools. In Making Informed 9th Grade Math Placement Decisions, explore why Algebra I enrollment decisions matter, highlight key questions to ask about your school’s placement process, and share practical steps for supporting students in their math pathways.
Grade 9 Math Placement: A Family Guide and School Decisionmaking Template highlights course placement decisions shape students’ early high school math experiences and their options for advanced math in high school. When students take Algebra I in grade 8, schools must decide whether they will repeat Algebra I in grade 9 or move on to other math courses. Some students repeat Algebra I in high school even after passing it in middle school, which can limit how opportunities to take more advanced math courses later in high school.