Math Placement Testing

BSD Graduation Requirements. In order to earn a standard high school diploma in BSD (policy IKF-AR) students must enroll in and pass at least three years of math courses while enrolled in 9-12th grade. For a student that accelerates, they would need to successfully complete three courses of math beyond AGS II once in high school in order to meet the minimum requirement of three math credits for graduation. 

College Entrance Requirements. Our core math sequence of AGS courses is designed to prepare a student for entry-level college math courses. Students who continue to pursue math courses beyond AGS III are engaging in college-level work in high school. A 2019 study by the National Association for College Admission Counseling reported that “The top factors in the admission decision were overall high school GPA, grades in college preparatory courses, strength of curriculum, and admission test scores. Among the next most important factors were the essay, a student’s demonstrated interest, counselor and teacher recommendations, class rank, and extracurricular activities.”

Strong foundation in Algebra is more important than enrollment in Calculus. More important than having taken the highest level of math possible, is nurturing your student’s interest, confidence, and strong foundations in the mathematics covered in the AGS sequence. In a set of recommendations published by the Mathematical Association of America the authors wrote that “[s]tudents are better prepared for post-secondary mathematics when they have developed an understanding of the undergirding principles which, when accompanied by fluent and flexible application of the concepts and procedures of precalculus mathematics, enable them to understand calculus as a coherent and broadly applicable body of knowledge. They continue on to note that “In some sense, the worst preparation a student heading toward a career in science or engineering could receive is one that rushes toward accumulation of problem-solving abilities in calculus while short-changing the broader preparation needed for success beyond calculus.” (Bressoud, Mesa, and Rasmussen, 2015).

All BSD students have the opportunity to take Calculus or another college-level mathematics course in HS without any placement testing or additional acceleration. Students who successfully complete AGS I in 8th grade in our district are on track to be able to access Calculus in high school without further accelerating their course path in mathematics. See the BSD grades 5-12 Math Pathways below:

Testing may help to consistently identify individuals for whom additional acceleration is appropriate. District-wide roughly 11% of our 8th grade students are enrolled in a math course at the AGS II or higher level.

Testing often suggests no change in placement. About 1,300 BSD students in grades 5-7 took took placement tests in May 2023. In the majority of cases no adjustment was recommended. We believe that most of our students are appropriately placed in their math courses without testing.

Yes, in BSD, the typical math sequence covers all three years of middle school math (Common Core Math 6, 7, and 8) in a two year period. 6th graders are enrolled in Math 6/7 and 7th graders are enrolled in Math 7/8. In this sequence, all 8th graders are enrolled in AGS1, which is the first year of high school level math.

It is important to consider the implications of skipping courses. Skipping a math course will require students to have a strong understanding of the mathematics that has been skipped. Skipping may increase the chance that the student will experience frustration, stress, anxiety, poor grades, or end up repeating math courses later. With course acceleration, moving forward is much easier than moving backward.

The math we teach in the 6/7 and 7/8 courses provides an essential foundation for Algebra and other HS concepts and should not be rushed through or skipped. 

From NCTM’s Catalyzing Change in MS Math: 

Lack of preparation can demotivate, reduce achievement and drive students away from math that they are seeking through accelerated placements. Again from Catalyzing Change in MS Math:

Please fill out the Single Subject Acceleration Request for Math form. The form can be found in multiple languages in the Test Request Forms section above. 

Your student may only take a placement test once each year.

Please note: All testing must take place in May.

Students entering the district are placed into math courses using academic records from their previous school. Your child’s school will seek to enroll your student in the next logical course offered. If you are seeking a more advanced course, you may request placement testing using the same request form and deadlines as current students. We will provide testing opportunities for out-of-district students.

Yes, BSD Summa programs at Meadow Park, Stoller, Tumwater, and Whitford middle schools will use the results of placement testing to enroll Summa students into math courses for next year. It is recommended that current 5th grade students entering the Summa program take a math placement test to help ensure the most appropriate math placement. Any current 5th grade student qualified for Summa who does not take a placement test will be scheduled for Math 7/8 next year.

Current 6th and 7th grade Summa students do not need to take a test unless they are seeking a different math placement next year.
 

Because testing may impact students’ middle school schedules and it is important to have results in a timely manner we are unable to offer tests after May. If you know of a conflict with your school’s testing date ahead of time we can set up a time to test before May 6th. 

Submit a Testing Absence Form.

The tests will be given in paper/pencil format with a scantron sheet for students to mark their answers.

Please have your student bring a calculator and pencil with them to the testing session if possible. We will have some extra calculators available but we may not be able to provide one for every student in some larger test sessions. 

These are the calculators needed for the different tests,

Students will be provided accommodations or modifications if present on an IEP or 504 plan. 

“Please ONLY offer my student the math 7/8 Placement test”
During your student’s placement test they will only be directed to respond to the Math 7/8 Placement Test. This test covers the learning targets for our Math 6/7 course. If your student meets criteria for acceleration on this test they will be enrolled in Math 7/8 next year, skipping Math 6/7. If they do not meet criteria they will be enrolled in Math 6/7 which is the typical course for BSD 6th grade students.

"Please offer my student BOTH the math 7/8 and AGS 1 Placement Tests (AGS 1 is a high school level course)"
During your student’s placement testing they will be directed to complete the Math 7/8 Placement Test (covering Math 6/7 targets) and the AGS 1 Placement Test (covering Math 7/8 targets). If your student meets criteria for acceleration on the Math 7/8 test but not AGS 1 then they will be placed into Math 7/8, if they meet the criteria on both tests then they will be placed into AGS 1. If they don’t meet criteria for either they will be placed into Math 6/7 which is the typical course for BSD 6th grade students. 

Note: Any Summa student seeking placement into AGS 1 should select the BOTH option. If a Summa student does not meet placement for either test they will still be placed into Math 7/8 as part of the Summa program.

If you select BOTH your student will be directed to complete a longer test that covers the Math 7/8 learning targets as well. The drawbacks are that the student is completing twice as much above-level testing than if they took ONLY the Math 7/8 Placement test. This can be stressful and feel unreasonable for students who are not prepared for the content on the test.
 

BSD Math Placement Tests are designed to assess the student's proficiency on the next BSD math course in their sequence. Students will be tested on the math of the course they are trying to skip, not the targets of their current course.

This is different from most other tests students are used to taking. BSD Math Placement Tests cover future content and not the math students are learning in their current BSD math class. State Standardized testing and classroom testing are based on a students current grade level and course. A student who exceeds the state standards and earns highly proficient scores in their course may still not meet criteria for acceleration on these placement tests because the tests target content from the next course.

Course learning targets are on our website

You may be able to check out extra copies of textbooks for a course you are studying from your local BSD middle school's library. 
 

District communications to families and caregivers will acknowledge which test was taken and what the resulting placement will be. Scores and other details about results will not be shared. 

All BSD math courses are built around the major topics students need to learn. Your student’s placement test result may indicate that your student still has valuable learning to do in their upcoming course without adjustment. This is the most common outcome of our placement tests and we feel confident that it is best for the vast majority of our students.

About 11% Percent of BSD 8th graders are enrolled in AGS II or above (2023-2024 school year).

Beaverton School District’s Intensive Summer Version (ISV) courses are not available to students entering 6th, 7th, and 8th grade. ISV courses are for students entering 9th grade and above (see here for information on ISV courses).

No. The district will not accept outside courses for credit/acceleration in middle school.
 

No. The BSD math placement tests are only available to students currently in 5th - 7th grade. For students in 8th grade and above seeking to change their math placement for next year, they must complete coursework either through the Intensive Summer Version (ISV) courses offered through BSD Flex (see here for more information) or through an accredited and pre-approved course outside of the district.

Students seeking to enroll in an out-of-district course should contact the counseling department at their high school BEFORE enrolling in a course for more information.

You may have received a confirmation that your student is registered for a test that may not sound correct.

• A student who is currently in 5th grade math would be registered for either Only Math 7/8 or BOTH Math 7/8 and AGS 1 depending on the preferences submitted on our test request forms.
• A student who is currently taking Math 6/7 would be registered for the AGS 1 Placement test. This test covers the math taught in Math 6/7 and Math 7/8. Students who demonstrate proficiency in Math 6/7 and Math 7/8 content on this test will be enrolled in AGS 1 next year.
• A student who is currently taking Math 7/8 would be registered for the AGS 2 Placement test. This test covers the math taught in AGS 1. Students who demonstrate proficiency in AGS 1 content on this test will be enrolled in AGS 2 next year.
• A student who is currently taking AGS 1 would be registered for the AGS 3 Placement test.

The placement test assigned to each student is the name of the course that they would otherwise take the year after next (i.e. two levels above), but the content covers the content from one level above the course they are currently enrolled in.

Please have your student bring with them sharpened pencil and eraser. Students taking only the Math 7/8 Placement Test do not need a calculator. Students taking any other test including students taking BOTH Math 7/8 and AGS 1, AGS 2, etc. Placement Tests are allowed a calculator on some or all of their test. If your student's test permits a calculator please send that with them if possible.

Please note: Cell phones, smart watches, or other electronic devices are not allowed to be used during testing. Please do not bring these devices to the testing session.

The test is NOT timed. However, the test usually takes students somewhere between 1-2 hours to complete. Here is a breakdown of the approximate times you can expect:

• Math 7/8 Only (skip Math 6/7): about 45-60 minutes
• AGS 1 Placement (skip Math 6/7 and Math 7/8): about 90-120 minutes
• AGS 2 or AGS 3 Placement: about 60-90 minutes

We will be able to share results from testing after our tests have finished across the district. Right now we anticipate sharing results with schools and families by Friday, June 7th. Please see other FAQ details about what is and isn't shared and how results are interpreted.

The placement test results are defined in this table:

All schools have received student placement recommendations from the placement tests and will be working over the summer to finalize schedules for the fall.
 

Students may only take one Placement Test in a year. There will be another opportunity next year to request a test (5th, 6th, and 7th graders) or to pursue additional acceleration at the high school level through ISV (see related FAQ: "My Student is a current 8th, 9th, 10th, or 11th grader, can they take a placement test to change their math placement for next year?")
 

Yes. A student or family may decline to skip a class. Contact an administrator at your next school if you wish to decline additional acceleration and instead take the next course in your students math pathway without skipping.

No. Students in 5th - 7th grade will automatically be enrolled in the next course. The diagram below shows a typical sequence of math classes without any additional acceleration.

Some students received a note that ended with the following paragraph: 

"Your student will be enrolled in a higher level math class next year. If you still would like to proceed with this placement, then there is nothing you need to do. If you would like to decline further acceleration for your student please communicate with an administrator at ___ Middle by June 21st."

The purpose of this note was to notify you of evidence that may be important when considering your options for next year. If the note mentioned a Summary Judgment, that information was based on your student’s January Report card. Your child’s June report card may be more helpful.

If you are trying to evaluate whether or not to decline acceleration your current teacher cannot make that decision for you. Your child’s teacher may be able to share information like “Your student has improved since January and I am confident that they have reached a high level of proficiency on 5th grade math” or “This note is still accurate and it appears to me that your student has reached a proficient but not highly proficient level on 5th grade math.” 

The role of your child’s current math teacher is not to assess their proficiency in future content and they may not be able to guide you fully in making this decision.