what is math academy?
Math Academy is a Pasadena Unified School District program aimed at radically accelerating the learning curves of the district’s mathematically-gifted students.
what is the goal of the program?
The goal of Math Academy is to prepare students to excel in the honors math and science programs at the most elite universities in the world. The standard high-school mathematics curriculum falls far short of what is typically required to succeed at that level.
what grades are the students who participate in the program?
The program begins in the 6th grade and continues through the 12th grade.
How many students are currently participating?
There are over 180 students across all grade levels and school campuses participating in the Math Academy. The number of students increases each year as new 6th grade classes enter the program. The goal is to eventually be able to graduate 50 students per year.
What are the demographics of the district and of the program participants?
The racial and ethnic makeup of PUSD is extremely diverse with roughly two-thirds of the district’s students qualifying as economically disadvantaged. The program’s participants are reflective of the population’s overall characteristics at each school. About half of Math Academy students are girls.
How do students qualify for the program?
All students throughout the district are given a mathematical skills and aptitude test in their 5th-grade year to determine math placement for middle school. Those who demonstrate sufficient ability are invited to participate in the Math Academy program the following academic year. Students not currently enrolled in PUSD can qualify through our out-of-district assessment.
Where is the program held?
Math Academy is currently held at two of the district’s middle schools: Sierra Madre Middle School and Octavia E. Butler Magnet STEM Middle School. The high school program is held at Pasadena High School.
What is the program’s curriculum?
In 6th grade, students begin learning algebra, geometry and trigonometry and will complete everything up through BC Calculus by the end of 8th grade. The high school program will consist of both pure and applied mathematics and cover such undergraduate topics as multivariable calculus, linear algebra, combinatorics, differential equations, real and complex analysis, number theory and cryptography, operations research, game theory, probability and statistics.
Who will be teaching these courses?
The middle school courses will be taught by AP-Calculus credentialed math teachers, while the high school courses will be taught by PhD mathematicians.
Will my child get academic credit for taking Math Academy classes?
Yes! The PUSD Board of Education approved the Math Academy courses as sequenced courses and they are taught by credentialed instructors so it will appear on the student’s transcript. The University of California has approved our sequence as satisfying the math requirements a-g so the students will get credit for taking the courses.
Have any special methods or tools been developed to facilitate the program?
Yes, the program leverages a number of powerful learning techniques that are rarely seen in institutional education such as distributed practice, mixed review, mastery learning, layering, parallel paths, cognitive non-interference and gamification. These methods are supported via a custom online platform that adapts to each student’s individualized learning curve.
What is being done to support the program financially?
Math Academy is under the fiscal sponsorship of the Pasadena Community Foundation, a 501 c3, and is actively seeking both institution and individual support for the PUSD program. The program has thus far raised $171,000 to cover costs for the 2017-2018 academic year.
How can my child participate in Math Academy courses if it is not currently in their school?
We have launched a commercial standalone online course that follows our curriculum and methodology and is currently in private beta. Please visit out Beta page for more information.
