Math Acceleration

Opportunities for Students with Exceptional Mathematical Promise

While each and every student has mathematical promise, Ames CSD is committed to providing opportunities to continue growth and advancement for our students with exceptional mathematical promise. The following information will help orient stakeholders to Ames opportunities and courses available including how students are identified for classes best suited to their math ability.

Course Placement Criteria

The following placement criteria are designed to predict whether a student will ultimately be successful in an accelerated placement. Enrollment is an opt-in process. This means that Ames CSD will notify families and students who are strong candidates for a certain course based upon the following criteria, but it is ultimately the decision of the family and student to select the right course to meet their needs. There is a reconsideration process described below if a family wants to be considered but is not identified through the following placement criteria.

Most courses are eligible to be taken upon successful (passing) completion of the previous course in the sequence. For those that represent a supplemental tier of support for advanced learners, the district will use multiple measures to identify students to be recommended for a course or pathway. This data will be organized, in partnership with the Data Strategist, by the ELP Lead. Communication will come from the ELP Lead prior to the annual course registration deadline.

Accelerated Math Course Entry Criteria 

Must meet at least two of the following:

  • Two ISASP scores of 95th percentile or higher during previous years. Iowa Assessment score may be used as an alternate standardized test score.
  • 95th percentile or higher on Quantitative or Nonverbal CogAt subtest
  • AMS – Most recent iReady Diagnostic overall relative placement level is “mid or above grade level” of the course in which you’re intending to bypass (ex. 6th grader should be “mid or above grade level” of 7th grade skills to enroll in Compacted 7B/8 Math)
  • AHS – Two MAP scores of 95th percentile or higher during previous year

Doubling-Up Criteria

  • There are times when a student may take two math courses in the same academic year. For the 2025-2026 school year, the only offering available is Geometry/ Advanced Algebra 2 at the High School
    • No criteria needs to be met for students who want to ‘double up’ and take Geometry and Advanced Algebra 2 at the same time

Summer DMACC Precalc: Any student that meets the Senior Year Plus admission requirements; family would be responsible for the cost of tuition if they elect this option instead of enrolling during the school year.

For a student who has inconsistent assessment scores or might be close to meeting the criteria, additional observation-based data will be collected from the teacher to aid in recommendations for student placement recommendations. Acceleration research continues to show that universal screening data is a more reliable way of finding all students who show exceptional mathematical promise than relying solely on teacher nominations.

For new families to the district, counselors will inform the student and families of the acceleration process. Students may use standardized test scores from a previous district as part of our identification process. If they do not have recent scores, the family could use the reconsideration process below to be identified for supplemental and/ or intensive opportunities for acceleration.

Math Pathways at Ames CSD

The diagram below shows the target course, or intended course in a sequence and potential on-ramps for opportunities to accelerate. Summer offerings will be available based on funding and student interest. Please note that Algebra 1 and beyond are considered high school courses, and thus the courses will show up on a student’s transcript and the grades will be included in their cumulative GPA, regardless of if a student took the course at the middle school.

6th Grade Options7th Grade Options8th Grade Options9th Grade Options10th Grade Options11th Grade Options12th Grade Options
Grade 6 MathGrade 7 MathGrade 8 MathAlgebra IGeometryAlgebra 2Elective Math Offerings
Compacted 6/7A MathCompacted 7B/8 MathAlgebra IGeometryAlgebra 2PrecalculusCalculus
Grade 6 Math*Compacted 7B/8 MathAlgebra IGeometryAlgebra 2PrecalculusCalculus
Grade 6 MathGrade 7 Math, Grade 8 MathAlgebra IGeometryAlgebra 2PrecalculusCalculus
Grade 6 MathGrade 7 Math*Algebra I*GeometryAlgebra 2PrecalculusCalculus
Grade 6 MathGrade 7 MathGrade 8 MathAlgebra IGeometry, Algebra 2PrecalculusCalculus
Grade 6 MathGrade 7 MathGrade 8 MathAlgebra IGeometryAlgebra 2**Calculus
Grade 6 MathGrade 7 Math, Grade 8 Math (A/B schedule)Algebra IGeometryAlgebra 2PrecalculusCalculus
Grade 6 MathGrade 7 MathGrade 8 MathAlgebra IGeometryAlgebra 2 with PrecalculusCalculus

*Summer Courses May Be Required
**Summer Precalculus Required (DMACC)

Intensive/Additional Acceleration Supports

Students who need the most intense acceleration intervention are those who have shown a need beyond differentiation or curriculum compacting. A small percentage, perhaps 1-5%, of students require the most radical acceleration, including options such as grade/ course skipping or post-secondary enrollment options (PSEO). They require a curriculum that differs significantly in pace, level, complexity from same-age peers.

Ames CSD uses the following intensive tier strategies:

  • Personalized Education Plan (PEP) – Students and families may work through the ELP process to design their personalized plan.  A student would need to be identified for Talented and Gifted (TAG) services in order for a teacher to do this.
  • Acceleration by Exam – Students that wish to skip a math course between 9th and 12th grade in order to take the next math course in their intended path need to show proficiency in the skills and concepts of the course they are trying to skip by taking the Proficiency Assessment (a cumulative final exam, for example) for that course. The exam will occur during the teacher workdays at the beginning of the year. Please reach out to your building ELP teacher for additional information regarding the process.

In addition showing proficiency in that course, the student must also meet 2 of the 3 following criteria:

  • Pass your previous math course with a score of 90% or above
  • Instructor recommendation
  • A MAP or ISASP math score of 95th percentile or higher

Interested parties should complete an opt-in form. To access the form or if you have questions, please reach out to your building principal.

Reconsideration Process/Appeals

If a student is not able to meet the criteria identified above for a course they wish to enroll in, students or parents may request an appeal. Ames CSD recognizes that students with exceptional mathematical promise may be identified in ways beyond a standardized assessment, which could include demonstrating patterns of focused interest, eagerness to try more difficult problems or extensions and solve problems in a different way, are particularly good at explaining complex concepts to others, demonstrating in other ways that they understand mathematical material deeply; and/ or are strongly interested in the material. 

Interested parties should complete the form below which will notify the ELP Lead a request has been submitted. Students and parents/ guardians may provide relevant evidence, including, but not limited to, the following:

  • Relevant grade history
  • Portfolio of work
  • Enrichment or supplemental coursework
  • Standardized test scores
  • Extracurricular experiences such as math clubs, circles, and competitions
  • Instructor Recommendation

Reconsideration/Appeal Form

Form is available June 3-August 22 for the 2025-2026 school year.

Form opens on June 3, 2025

Ames CSD Acceleration Options Document

English: Math Acceleration Options 2025-2026