In today’s society, it is imperative that a fundamental knowledge of mathematics becomes a part of everyone’s educational background. It is important for students to realize that their achievement in mathematics is not based solely on their ability but also on their persistence and effort. The study of mathematics will help develop logical thinking and reasoning skills that are crucial in our daily lives. All students will achieve mathematical competence through a comprehensive mathematics program that emphasizes the appropriate use of technology, problem solving, communicating, reasoning and proof, making connections and using representations. To this end, students are encouraged to take four years (eight semesters) of mathematics. In order to comply with the requirements outlined in the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks, CP1 and CP2 students are encouraged to double up in mathematics during their sophomore year.

The first year of algebra is critical. It is a pivotal course that requires students to work diligently on the fundamental concepts of mathematics. This background will help students achieve success in all subsequent courses. Another course that our department sees as vital to student achievement is our Problem Solving course. It is designed to develop and improve the problem solving strategies that will be utilized in all subsequent courses as well as on such standardized tests as the PSAT, SAT and MCAS. We recommend that this course be taken during a student’s freshman or sophomore year.

Students will be expected to communicate their knowledge of mathematics through a variety of assessment tools. Students will be exposed to the many wonderful connections that exist among the varied disciplines of mathematics as well as to the real world. Students will then begin to see and understand the importance, beauty and power of mathematics.