IMPORTANT UPDATE as of May 8, 2023
2023 MVT Waived
The 2023 Math Validation Test requirement has been waived for the 2023-24 school year.
Incoming 9th grade students who have completed a qualifying year-long Algebra 1 course with a C or better, and who wish to be placed in Geometry in 9th grade, must still meet coursework and grade requirements.
SEE UPDATED REQUIREMENTS, BELOW.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the updated process for families who have not yet submitted an application for Geometry placement?
- Complete the Geometry Enrollment Application (formerly called the MVT application).
- Provide the course content of their Algebra 1 course.
- Submit grades of C or better from both semesters of their Algebra 1 course.
Please scroll down and review all additional details regarding the steps above.
My child qualified for the May MVT. How will I know if my child is eligible for Geometry placement under the revised process for 2023?
Families who have not yet submitted second semester Algebra 1 grades will receive an email request for second semester Algebra 1 grades.
Upon meeting the current requirements, families will receive an email confirming Geometry eligibility.
If my child qualified to take the May MVT, will they be moved into Geometry? Are additional steps required?
Students who qualified for the MVT may need to complete additional steps to qualify for Geometry.
- Students who submitted FIRST AND SECOND semester Algebra 1 grades of C or better by May 5 have qualified for Geometry under the current criteria. High school counselors will place them into Geometry beginning May 26.
- Students who have not yet completed Algebra 1 MUST submit SECOND SEMESTER Algebra 1 grades to validationexam@sfusd.edu when they are available. Submissions meeting the August 10 deadline will yield schedule changes prior to the start of school on Aug 16, 2023.
If my child meets the requirements, when will their course schedule be changed?
For students who have submitted documentation including FIRST AND SECOND semester Algebra 1 grades by May 5, counselors make scheduling changes beginning Friday, May 26. Those changes are reflected in students’ schedules for the 2023-24 school year.
For students who have submitted documentation by August 10, counselors make scheduling changes by the start of school on August 16.
Scores are shared with high school counselors. Families do not need to contact schools to make the changes.
Why do all SFUSD 9th graders take Algebra 1?
The CCSS-M content standards describe a progression of algebra from Kindergarten through Grade 8 that leads to the CCSS Algebra 1 course in high school. The standards that defined Algebra 1 under the old California standards are now divided between CCSS Math 8 and CCSS Algebra 1. CCSS Math 8 introduces extensive new mathematics content traditionally taught in high school—linear functions, transformational geometry, and bivariate statistics—and is not a course that can be skipped. CCSS Algebra 1 does not repeat content from CCSS Math 8, but rather builds on the content students learn in CCSS Math 8, and should therefore be the core course for 9th graders in high school. [Source]
Will my child be able to take AP Calculus in high school if they take Algebra 1 in 9th grade?
Yes, there are multiple pathways detailed in SFUSD's recommended course sequences by which a student can take Calculus in 12th grade. For example, a student who takes Algebra 1 in 9th grade, Geometry in 10th grade, and the compressed Algebra 2 + Precalculus course in 11th grade may take AP Calculus in 12th grade. Please speak with your child's high school counselor to ask which options are available at their school.
(See also: "If my child did not pass the exam, can they still take AP Calculus by 12th grade?" below.)
Which online Algebra 1 courses does SFUSD recommend?
SFUSD does not endorse or recommend any online Algebra 1 courses. SFUSD recommends that all students follow one of the recommended Secondary Course Sequences in Math.
SFUSD accepts courses that are listed on the UC/CSU Course List website.
9th Grade Math Placement & Math Validation Test Information - Updated May 10, 2023
9th Grade Math Placement in SFUSD
SFUSD follows the Common Core Math recommended course sequence, in which students take Common Core State Standards-based (CCSS) Math 8 in 8th grade and CCSS Algebra 1 in 9th grade. CCSS Math 8 is a rigorous course that prepares students for success in high school math courses.
The SFUSD course sequence for math provides a focused, coherent, and rigorous learning experience that balances mathematical content knowledge with mathematical practices. Students take CCSS Algebra 1 in 9th grade and CCSS Geometry in 10th grade. In 11th grade, students choose to take either CCSS Algebra 2 or a compression course, CCSS Algebra 2 + Precalculus, that will prepare students for AP Calculus in 12th grade.
Math Placement Policy
In accordance with the California Mathematics Placement Act of 2015 (SB359), the SFUSD Board of Education passed the Math Placement Policy which describes how students will be placed in their 9th grade math class:
- Incoming 9th graders who have completed a Common Core State Standards (CCSS) Math 8 course will be placed in CCSS Algebra 1.
- Incoming 9th graders who have earned a C or better in a qualifying full-year Algebra 1 course outside SFUSD must take and pass the Math Validation Test if they wish to be placed in Geometry in 9th grade. Their course must cover the subject matter taught in CCSS Math 8 and CCSS Algebra 1, outlined in SFUSD’s Math Placement Policy. Students who meet the cut-score will be placed in CCSS Geometry*.
*Counselors will make schedule changes at the end of May for the May MVT and by the 3rd week of the school year for the August MVT. Please review the FAQs for details.
There will be a placement checkpoint in the first month of the 2023-24 school year. Details will be provided once available.
Important changes to Geometry Placement for 2023, only:
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The Math Validation Test requirement has been waived for 2023 as SFUSD reviews its Math Placement Policy.
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Families now have until August 10 to complete the Geometry Enrollment Application and submit all documents.
Students entering 9th grade in 2023-24 who wish to be placed in Geometry must do the following by August 10, 2023:
- Complete the Geometry Enrollment form (formerly called the MVT application).
- Provide the course content of their Algebra 1 course.
- Submit grades of C or better from both semesters of their Algebra 1 course.
Additional details for Course Content submission
- Students who took an Algebra 1 course in their middle school are required to email their course syllabus or the Coursework Verification Form to validationexam@sfusd.edu. SFUSD will determine whether the courses cover all content outlined in the Common Core State Standards for Algebra 1.
- Students who took an Algebra 1 course outside of their middle school must verify that it meets UC/CSU requirements by visiting the UC Course List website. SFUSD relies on the UC Course List to determine if online courses fulfill CCSS Algebra 1 content requirements. Algebra 1 courses from eligible institutions will appear in the search results. Schools that are not on the list do not qualify. SFUSD neither endorses nor determines eligibility of online courses.
- NOTE: Self-study, supplementary math software, and tutoring are not eligible.
Additional details for Grade submission
- Students must provide proof that they earned a C or better in their Algebra 1 course. Standards-based grades and narrative reports are also accepted. Families should email their submissions to validationexam@sfusd.edu as a PDF, image, or screenshot. The student’s name must be clearly visible on the document.
- Official transcripts are not required.
This page was last updated on May 24, 2023