Mathematics

Purpose and Objectives

The BHS Mathematics Department offers an array of courses that meets or exceeds the requirements of the Massachusetts State Frameworks and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Standards.

Students are required to complete four years of mathematics. In addition to the traditional high school courses of

Department Contact

  • Algebra 1 & 2, Geometry,

  • Pre-Calculus and

  • Calculus,

students may elect

  • Finance/Business,

  • Advanced Topics, or

  • Computer Science. 

Calculus is offered at the Advanced Placement (AP) level (AB and BC). Computer Science is an AP course. All three AP courses may earn students college credit.

Belmont HIgh School Program of Studies

Department Contact

Phone: (617) 993-5960 

Mathematics Director 

Faculty Listing is here.

Academic Support

MCAS - Students must pass the MCAS test in order to receive a diploma from Belmont High School. Students who fail the test in grade ten must enroll in Math Skills in grade 11 - a course designed to prepare students to pass the MCAS test. Students not passing one of the three MCAS re-takes during the junior year will be enrolled in Math Skills for their senior year until they do pass the MCAS test.

Extracurricular

Peer Tutoring – Students are invited to become peer tutors to assist students who would like extra help. Although teachers are the primary source of help for students, peer tutors can be effective in giving students the help they need to achieve their goals, whether to pass a course, to strive for higher grades, to score higher on MCAS, or to qualify for honors level course work.

BHS has a highly successful math team, competing in two leagues as well as in national formats, such as the AMC, AIME, and the USAMO. BHS boasts a long list of local, state, and national standouts. All students are invited and should contact the math team coach for details.

Philosophy

We live in a time of extraordinary and accelerating change. New knowledge and ways of doing and communicating mathematics continue to emerge and evolve. Quantitative information available only to limited numbers of people a few years ago is now widely disseminated through popular media outlets. In this changing world, those who understand and can do mathematics will have significantly enhanced opportunities and options for shaping their futures.

There is a common foundation of mathematics that must be learned by all students. This does not imply that all students are alike. Students exhibit different talents, abilities, achievements, needs, and interests in mathematics. Nevertheless, all students must have access to the highest-quality mathematics instructional programs. A society in which only a few have the mathematical knowledge needed to fill crucial economic, political, and scientific roles is not consistent with the values of a just democratic system or its economic needs.

. . . segments excerpted from the NCTM Standards