Kelly Curtiss, 6-12 Coordinating Supervisor of Mathematics, Computer Science, Business, TV
Annamarie Russo, K-5 Coordinating Supervisor of STEAM-Math/Science/BSI/GRO
The Parsippany-Troy Hills Mathematics Department is dedicated to providing our students with a rigorous and thorough mathematics curriculum that establishes the essential foundation for future success in mathematics. We are also dedicated to promoting an overall sense of health and wellness for our students which includes placing students into their appropriate math course so that they do not experience undue stress or anxiety. Individual math course placements are determined collaboratively by the teacher and supervisor by a thorough analysis of each child's skill set and performance through multiple points of data. We know your child will be challenged in the determined math course that best fits their needs.
Elementary Mathematics K-5
Our K-5 mathematics program, Go Math!, is a six-year sequence for elementary students and is aligned with the New Jersey Student Learning Standards for Mathematics, as well as the New Jersey Technology Standards. The K-5 mathematics program provides students with content-specific skills and concepts while developing a variety of problem-solving skills and strategies, thinking skills, communication skills, reasoning skills, and a positive attitude towards mathematics. Lessons are prepared and implemented developmentally, sequentially, and with the understanding that learning proceeds from concrete to abstract. Additionally, there are opportunities within our math program for differentiation and delivery of more rigorous content. Our K-5 math program will develop and foster mathematical concepts and skills, which are essential to everyday living, while preparing students for further mathematical study in middle school.
Starting the 2019-2020 school year, the elementary schools ran a successful accelerated math pilot program in 5th grade. This program continues to grow each year and provides a highly rigorous course pathway at the elementary level. The main resources to support student learning were Grade 5 GO Math! and the Grade 6 Big Ideas Math Series. The goal of this program is to double the rate at which students move through New Jersey’s middle school standards and increase the depth of knowledge and problem-solving skills in order to meet the required prerequisites for studying Algebra I in 7th grade and then Geometry in 8th grade.
*Please note: Starting in the 2022-2023 school year, there will be no option for a parent appeal for Grade 5 Accelerated Math or Grade 6 Accelerated Math Programs. There is a math data collection process during the school year to identify eligible students. If students meet the criteria of each data point and have completed the prerequisite courses, they will be notified and admitted into the accelerated math programs. If your child is not eligible for Grade 5 or Grade 6 Accelerated Math, they will still have the opportunity to take 7th Advanced Math and Algebra I in 8th grade. For more information on the sequence of math courses, please scroll down to view.
To view the specific course curriculum documents click here.
Middle School Mathematics 6-8
We want to create the most successful mathematics experience for all students as they transition from elementary mathematics into more advanced mathematics in the middle and high school. All 6th grade students will begin their middle school math experience studying a curriculum that is guided by the State of New Jersey’s 6th grade math standards. This course is called Math 6 and the main resource to support student learning is the 2022 Big Ideas Math Series. You can view the resources by clicking here.
This course of study will set a strong foundation for all students with opportunities for students to challenge themselves through differentiation and exposure to some 7th grade topics. This course provides many course pathway opportunities in mathematics throughout the rest of their math career. Our dynamic middle school math teachers will focus on instructional strategies that put students at the center of the classroom. The 6th grade teachers will support students' learning needs at all levels through enrichment and differentiation. This includes enrichment through challenging problem solving tasks, extended work with integers and rational numbers, and intervention supports through flexible small group instruction. Depending on the students’ performance in this course of study, students will then be placed into either Math 7 or Math 7 Advanced. Success in Math 7 will then place students in Math 8. Success in Math 7 Advanced will then place students in Algebra I in 8th Grade. Placement into Math 7 Advanced will be determined based on student performance using multiple points of criteria. Placement into Algebra I in 8th grade requires that students have the prerequisite skills that are taught in Math 7 Advanced and meet the performance criteria requirements.
Students entering 6th grade who participated in and found success with the 5th Grade Acceleration Program will continue with the accelerated curriculum in 6th grade. Students in the 6th Grade Accelerated course will study a curriculum covering the New Jersey Learning Standards for 7th and 8th grade. Success in this curriculum will prepare this group of students to study Algebra I during their 7th grade year and then Geometry their 8th grade year.
All students who are placed in Math 6 will have the opportunity to be placed in an advanced mathematics pathway that allows them to move into Algebra I in 8th grade based on their performance in class and other skills assessments.
Below is the sequence of math courses for Grades 3-8
*Placement into these courses is determined based on student performance and completion of prerequisite courses. Important note: Prerequisite courses can not be skipped or appealed. For example, students in Math 6 cannot be placed in Algebra 1 in 7th grade as it does not meet the prerequisite requirements.
To view the specific course curriculum documents click here.
High School Mathematics 9-12
Students entering high school will have many opportunities in their studies for mathematics. Placement into courses depends on both student performance and completion of prerequisite courses. Please refer to the High School Course Selection Bulletin for course descriptions and prerequisite requirements.
To view the High School Course Selection Bulletin click here
To view the specific course curriculum documents click here.
Below is the sequence of math courses available for students at the high school.
Appeal Process for Mathematics
Note: Students/Parents cannot appeal course prerequisite requirements in mathematics. For example, in middle school, 7th Grade Advanced Math is a prerequisite for Algebra I. Students in Math 7 cannot appeal for placement into Algebra I because they have not attained the prerequisite curriculum requirement. Likewise, students cannot skip over Algebra I to be placed into Geometry. Algebra I is a prerequisite for placement into Geometry. However, if a student is in Algebra II and is recommended by their teacher for Precalculus, the student may use the appeal process to appeal for placement into Precalculus Honors.
Additionally, the course placement appeal process must take place during the regular spring scheduling window. For further information on the scheduling process please click here. Approval of appeals is not guaranteed. The mathematics supervisor will confer with the student’s teacher, review student performance on course assessments, and make a final decision. The purpose of the course placement process is to ensure that students are placed in classes where they can experience success at the appropriate challenge level. We do not want students placed into mathematics classes that will cause them unnecessary stress and anxiety or create gaps in their knowledge.
Note: As district policy, Algebra I cannot be skipped and Middle School Students are not eligible for the Alternate Summer Course Program.
Alternate Math & Science Summer Course Approval - High School Students Only
Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Schools has an alternate course approval process for Mathematics and Science courses. Current 9th-11th grade high school students must apply to participate by April 15th by notifying the appropriate supervisor and school counselor via email and filling out the online application using the following link: https://forms.gle/8rhpJ5N3iYX7AFLT8
The Alternate Course Approval process provides students with the option to take an approved summer course outside of the school district at an accredited high school or university at their own expense with the intent to skip a required prerequisite course. The summer alternative course must provide a minimum of 120 seat/instructional hours, and any alternative science course must include a laboratory component.
The alternate summer course must align to our district curriculum and performance expectations as its purpose is to prepare the student for testing to satisfy the requirements of a prerequisite math or science course. For example, as a current freshman in Algebra I, a student may apply for a summer Geometry course with the goal of testing out of Geometry to earn placement into Algebra II for their sophomore year. Final approval to place out of a prerequisite course is predicated on taking and passing PTHSD district exams with a minimum score of 70% and on there being room in the course in September of the next school year. In addition, in order to advance to an Honors or AP course, students must take the honors level exam(s) and earn a minimum grade of 85%. All exams are comprehensive, cover the entire course, and are designed to meet or exceed the NJ student learning standards. There are no exceptions to the testing requirements.
Any course that is taken over the summer is for advancement purposes only and no credit will be awarded, nor will it appear on the student’s transcripts. All costs incurred by a student’s enrollment in such a course, including costs of proficiency testing, will be absorbed by the student’s parent or legal guardian. The cost of the course will have no impact on the approval decision.