SFUSD Secondary Mathematics Pathways

View our 8th Grade Math Course Enrollment Family Guidance in multiple languages 

All middle and K-8 schools will offer students the opportunity to take Algebra 1 in 8th grade. 

Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year: 

• Common Core Math 8 will be offered at all middle and K-8 schools. 
• Algebra 1 will be offered in eighth grade as a course that can be taken concurrently with Math 8. Students may be exempted from and therefore skip Math 8 if they meet academic eligibility criteria and have a meeting with their counselor. The student’s parent/guardian must provide a signed parent/guardian consent. 
  • For SY 2026-2027, if the student’s seventh grade Fall and Winter STAR score reports show for each assessment that they have demonstrated an overall score of Level 4 and “secure” (as defined by the Renaissance STAR assessment) in all CCSS Math 7 standards within the California Math Standards (included within the domains of Algebra - Expressions and Equations, Geometry, Numbers and Operations - Ratios and Proportional Relationships, Numbers and Operations - The Number System, and Statistics and Probability), they will be permitted to be considered for Math 8 exemption. Students and parents/guardians must then meet with their counselor to obtain signed parent/guardian consent for the exemption. 
• A 6-8 Grade Braided Compression Pilot that covers Math 6-8 and Algebra 1 over three years will be provided at least 2 schools.

View Math Acceleration Guidance for Incoming and Current Freshmen

Ninth grade mathematics course placement takes multiple objective academic measures of pupil performance into consideration: 

● Success in current math course(s): classroom assignments and grades, formative and summative assessments and overall grade on report card 

● Readiness for the next level course as measured by the critical levels met in end-of year-assessments 

Students who have taken coursework covering all of the standards taught in CCSS Math 8 in 8th grade will be enrolled in CCSS Algebra 1 in 9th grade, unless they meet the criteria below. 

Students who have taken SFUSD coursework covering all of the standards taught in CCSS Algebra 1 before 9th grade and received a grade of C or higher in that Algebra I course will be enrolled in CCSS Geometry in 9th grade. 

Students who have taken Algebra 1 outside of SFUSD will be placed in Geometry in 9th grade if they earned a C or higher in their Algebra 1 course, and have submitted a course syllabus, or equivalent, originating from the school or teacher where coursework was completed to verify that they have covered the standards taught in CCSS Algebra 1. In addition, if the student took the content through an online course, the online course must be from an accredited institution and must be a-g eligible. 

Students who have taken coursework covering all of the standards taught in CCSS Geometry before 9th grade (in addition to completing and passing Algebra 1 before 9th grade as described above) and received a grade of C or higher in that Geometry course will be eligible to take CCSS Algebra 2 in 9th grade. To verify that the student has already learned the standards required for CCSS Geometry, the student must submit a course syllabus, or equivalent, originating from the school or teacher where coursework was completed. In addition, if the student took the content through an online course, the online course must be from an accredited institution and must be a-g eligible.

Within the first month of 9th grade, students will be administered the STAR Math assessment as a district interim assessment, as well as to ensure accurate placement and permit reevaluation of individual pupil progress.

A student who completed a CCSS Algebra 1 course in 8th grade covering all required CCSS Algebra 1 standards but did not earn a C or better in the course can challenge their placement in CCSS Algebra 1 in 9th grade by: 

• Requesting an opportunity to take the STAR Math Assessment no later than the first week of 9th grade by contacting their school counselor to schedule the test. If the student’s STAR score report shows proficiency in all CCSS Algebra 1 standards as defined by the California Math Standards (Number and Quantity, Algebra, Functions, Statistics and Probability and Interpreting Categorical and Quantitative Data), they will be permitted to be transferred to a Geometry course. To the extent practicable, such transfer should occur within 7 days. OR 
• Students who earn proficient scores in all CCSS Algebra 1 standards (listed above) on the STAR Math Assessment during the one-month checkpoint may be transferred to Geometry within 7 days of receiving their score report, and after a meeting with the school counselor, student and parent/guardian to explain the challenges of a late transfer into the course. OR 
• Submitting proof of completion of an accredited CCSS Algebra 1 summer or online course before 9th grade with a C or better to be enrolled in CCSS Geometry at the beginning of 9th grade. The student should provide this information to the school counselor no later than the first week of school to accommodate timely transfer. To the extent practicable, such transfer should occur within 7 days. 

A student who completed a CCSS Geometry course in 8th grade covering all required CCSS Geometry standards but did not earn a C or better in the course can challenge their placement in CCSS Geometry in 9th grade by: 

• Requesting an opportunity to take the STAR Math Assessment no later than the first week of 9th grade by contacting their school counselor to schedule the test. If the student’s STAR score report shows proficiency in all CCSS Geometry standards as defined by the California Math Standards (Congruence, Similarity, Right Triangles and Trigonometry, Circles, Expressing Geometric Properties with Equations, Geometric Measurement and Dimension, Modeling with Geometry, Conditional Probability and the Rules of Probability and Using Probability to Make Decisions), they will be permitted to be transferred to an Algebra 2 course. To the extent practicable, such transfer should occur within 7 days. OR 
• Students who earn proficient scores in all CCSS Geometry standards (listed above) on the STAR Math Assessment during the one-month checkpoint may be transferred to Algebra 2 within 7 days of receiving their score report, and after a meeting with the school counselor, student and parent/guardian to explain the challenges of a late transfer into the course. OR 
• Submitting proof of completion of an accredited CCSS Geometry summer or online course before 9th grade with a C or better to be enrolled in CCSS Algebra 2 at the beginning of 9th grade. The student should provide this information to the school counselor no later than the first week of school to accommodate timely transfer. To the extent practicable, such transfer should occur within 7 days.

Annually, the Board will review aggregate pupil placement data to ensure that pupils who are qualified to progress in mathematics courses based on the objective academic measures are not held back in a disproportionate manner on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender or socioeconomic background. The Superintendent or designee shall also report on the percentage of District students who have successfully completed mathematics courses that satisfy the requirements for entrance to the University of California and the California State University (Education Code 52060). This report will be provided as described in Administrative Regulation.

Expanded Math in grade 8: At 19 schools, grade 8 students will have the opportunity to take Expanded Math. Students take Math 8 and Algebra I during their 8th grade year.

• Students who meet the academic criteria will be automatically enrolled in both Math 8 and Algebra I, but can opt out of Algebra I if desired.

• Students who do not meet the criteria for automatic enrollment can choose to take Algebra I as an elective.

• Students who are eligible will have the option to skip Math 8 and enroll directly in Algebra I.  Students who meet the academic criteria will meet with their guidance counselor, and families will make an informed decision before providing consent.

Grade 6 and 7 students will take standard Math 6 and Math 7 courses.

Two schools will participate in a Braided Compression Pilot. See below.

All students also have additional opportunities to accelerate in mathematics during high school as pictured in the image below.

Braided Compression Pilot will be implemented in two schools to continue research on academic impact for students across all models through 12th grade.

• Schools selected based on feasibility analysis related to scheduling constraints due to size, language programs and instructional schedule.