Advanced Math Placement Information (Grades 6 - 8)
Building a Pathway to Advanced Mathematics
Midland ISD provides multiple mathematics pathways in grades 6–8 to ensure students receive the appropriate level of challenge while developing the mathematical foundation needed for success in high school and beyond.
The advanced mathematics pathway is designed to prepare students to successfully complete Algebra I by 8th grade and continue into advanced high school mathematics courses.
Texas Education Code §28.029 requires school districts to develop a middle school advanced mathematics program designed to increase the number of students who are prepared to enroll in Algebra I in 8th grade. Texas law also requires automatic enrollment in advanced mathematics for qualifying sixth-grade students, with parents retaining the ability to opt their student out.
A student does not have to complete Algebra I in middle school to access advanced mathematics in high school. Students can enter the Pre-AP/AP mathematics sequence in high school and continue into advanced coursework such as Pre-AP Geometry, Pre-AP Algebra II, AP Precalculus, AP Calculus, or AP Statistics, depending on their individual course sequence.
Midland ISD Middle School Math Pathways
| Grade | Course | Mathematics Content | State Assessment | Placement/Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6th | 6th Grade Math | 6th Grade TEKS | 6th Grade Math STAAR | Open enrollment |
| 6th | 6th Grade Honors Math | All 6th Grade TEKS + approximately ½ of 7th Grade TEKS | 6th Grade Math STAAR | Meets or Masters on 5th Grade Math STAAR or equivalent on district developed placement exam |
| 7th | 7th Grade Math | 7th Grade TEKS; additional instructional time provided through a double-block structure | 7th Grade Math STAAR | Open enrollment |
| 7th | 7th Grade Honors Math | Remaining 7th Grade TEKS + all 8th Grade TEKS | 8th Grade Math STAAR | Masters on 6th Grade Math STAAR or equivalent on district developed placement exam |
| 8th | 8th Grade Math | 8th Grade TEKS | 8th Grade Math STAAR | Open enrollment |
| 8th | 8th Grade Math with Intervention | 8th Grade Tier 1 instruction + intervention block | 8th Grade Math STAAR | Students needing additional mathematics support based on prior performance |
| 8th | Pre-AP Algebra I | Algebra I TEKS | Algebra I EOC | Successful completion of the 7th grade honors math and/or district placement criteria |
Placement in Advanced Math
Students with STAAR Results
Midland ISD uses student performance on the prior year's STAAR mathematics assessment as the primary placement measure for the accelerated middle school mathematics pathway.
6th Grade Honors Math
Students who earn Meets Grade Level or Masters Grade Level on the 5th Grade Math STAAR qualify for placement.
7th Grade Honors Math
Students who earn Masters Grade Level on the 6th Grade Math STAAR qualify for placement.
Students Without STAAR Results
Students entering Midland ISD from a private school, homeschool, out-of-state school, or another educational setting without applicable Texas STAAR mathematics results may still be considered for advanced mathematics.
Because these students do not have the STAAR measure used for district placement, they must complete a Midland ISD mathematics placement assessment to demonstrate readiness for the requested accelerated course.
The placement assessment measures the prerequisite mathematics knowledge and skills students need to be successful in the accelerated pathway. Students must meet the district-established placement standard for the requested course.
Parent Requests for Advanced Coursework
Texas Education Code §26.003(a)(3)(B) provides parents the right to request that their child be permitted to attend a class for credit above the child's grade level. The law provides that such a request should not be unreasonably denied unless the district expects that the student cannot perform satisfactorily in the requested class.
What This Means in Midland ISD
Parents may request consideration for an advanced mathematics placement even when a student does not meet the district's standard placement criteria.
A request for placement does not automatically result in placement in the requested course. Midland ISD must determine whether the student is academically prepared to perform satisfactorily in the advanced course.
When a student does not meet the standard placement criteria, the district may review multiple measures of readiness, including:
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STAAR mathematics performance;
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district mathematics placement assessment results;
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prior mathematics coursework and grades;
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other available standardized mathematics assessment data; and
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evidence that the student has mastered the prerequisite content necessary for success in the requested course.
For students without applicable STAAR results, the district placement assessment is required so that Midland ISD has a consistent measure of the student's readiness for accelerated coursework.
The goal of the placement process is not simply to determine whether a student can complete more advanced work, but whether the student has the prerequisite mathematical foundation needed to be successful and continue progressing through the advanced mathematics sequence.
Why Prerequisite Skills Matter
Accelerated mathematics requires students to learn more than one grade level of mathematics within a shortened period of time.
For example, students in 6th Grade Honors complete all sixth-grade mathematics content and begin seventh-grade content. Students in 7th Grade Honors complete the remaining seventh-grade content and all eighth-grade mathematics content.
Because the curriculum is compacted, students must enter each course with a strong command of prerequisite skills. Significant gaps in foundational content can make it difficult for students to keep pace and can affect their readiness for Algebra I and subsequent high school mathematics courses.
For this reason, Midland ISD uses objective measures of mathematics readiness when making placement decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my child move into advanced math if they were previously in an on-level course?
Yes. Students are not permanently assigned to one mathematics pathway. Students who demonstrate the prerequisite knowledge and readiness for an advanced course may be considered for a change in placement based on STAAR scores or scores on the Midland ISD mathematics placement assessment.
My child did not take STAAR. Can they still qualify?
Yes. Students without applicable STAAR results may demonstrate readiness through the Midland ISD mathematics placement assessment for entry into 6th grade honors or 7th grade honors.
Does a parent request under TEC §26.003 guarantee placement?
No. Parents have the right to request placement in a class above their child's grade level. The district may evaluate whether the student is expected to perform satisfactorily in the requested course.
Why does Midland ISD use a placement assessment for students without STAAR scores?
The assessment provides a common measure of the prerequisite mathematics skills required for the accelerated course when the student's standard district placement measure—STAAR—is unavailable.
Can students take advanced mathematics in high school if they do not take Algebra I in 8th grade?
Yes. A student does not have to complete Algebra I in middle school to access advanced mathematics in high school. Students can enter the Pre-AP/AP mathematics sequence in high school and continue into advanced coursework such as Pre-AP Geometry, Pre-AP Algebra II, AP Precalculus, AP Calculus, or AP Statistics, depending on their individual course sequence.