Below are examples of the typical math pathways for middle school students as well as some typical pathways for students as they enter high school.
For more information, please review this document: BPS Math Pathways Grades 7-12.
For Math placement guidelines, please review this document: Caregiver Guidelines for Accelerated Math Placement at Belmont High School.
Please read our Math Placement FAQs for helpful answers to common questions.

Math classes in Grades 7 and 8 are leveled in the following ways:

Beginning in 7th grade, students are placed in math classes as determined by teacher recommendation and readiness assessments. We will use the MDTP Assessment System.  We will also reference the i-Ready scores to ensure grade level standard mastery and MCAS scores as well as the Teacher recommendation.  Teacher recommendations are based on many factors including course grade, teacher observation of study skills, accuracy and other skills.

ALL 7th grade students take one of three courses:

Math 7: a traditionally-paced rigorous course addressing all of the grade 7 Massachusetts Mathematics Curriculum Framework standards.  Students completing Math 7 typically take Math 8 in 8th grade.

Math 7 Compact: a fast-paced rigorous course covering all of the  grade 7 Massachusetts Mathematics Curriculum Framework standards as well as an additional 5 units of study of the grade 8 Massachusetts Mathematics Curriculum Framework Curriculum standards. Students completing Math 7 Compacted typically take Algebra 1 in 8th grade.

Algebra 1: a fast-paced rigorous course covering all of the High School Algebra 1 Massachusetts Mathematics Curriculum Framework standards.  Students completing Algebra 1 in 7th grade typically take High School Geometry in 8th Grade.

Following 7th grade, ALL students in 8th grade take one of three courses:

Math 8: a traditionally-paced, rigorous course covering all of the Grade 8 Massachusetts Mathematics Curriculum Framework standards.

Algebra 1: a fast-paced rigorous course covering all high school Algebra 1 Massachusetts Mathematics Curriculum Framework standards provided in the while also incorporating the remaining Grade 8 curriculum standards not covered in Math 7 Compact.

Geometry: a fast-paced rigorous course covering all high school Geometry Massachusetts Mathematics Curriculum Framework standards.