Belmont Public Schools K-8 Math Curriculum Overview

BPS K-8 Math Curriculum

This guide to the math curriculum at Belmont Public Schools is not an official BPS document and is not intended to be exhaustive.  Since the math pathways at BPS can often be confusing for those new to the district or for those navigating a progression for the first time, we provide this guide solely as a rough guide of what to expect from math class choices at BPS.

Note that there are several curricular options that have recently been eliminated at BPS.

K-6th Grade

For Grades K-6 at the Belmont Public Schools, all students in the same grade level take the same classes.

7th Grade

In the spring of 6th grade, students’ math teachers recommend students for one of two math classes for Grade 7 based on the following information:

  • Course grade
  • Teacher observations of study skills, processing speed, accuracy, and other skills.
  • Math MCAS history

The two courses available to incoming 7th Grade students are:

  • Math 7–Compacted: “a fast-paced rigorous course covering all of the grade 7 curriculum standards provided in the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks (10 units of study) as well as an additional 5 units of study of the grade 8 curriculum standards.”
  • Math 7: “a traditionally–paced rigorous course covering all of the grade 7 curriculum standards provided in the Common Core Standards.”

Families typically receive recommendations for placement in May.

Official BPS Math Curriculum Pages

8th Grade

Grade 7 students are placed into one of two grade 8 mathematics courses at Chenery:

  • Algebra I: “a fast–paced rigorous course covering all of the high school level Algebra 1 Common Core standards while incorporating the remaining units of grade 8 curriculum standards not covered in Math 7–Compacted”
    • Students who take Math 7-Compacted generally progress to take Algebra I in 8th grade.
  • Math 8: “a traditionally–paced rigorous course covering all of the grade 8 curriculum standards provided in the Common Core Standards”
    • Students who take Math 7, and those who struggled to complete Math 7-Compacted, are placed in Math 8

Starting in Fall 2021, rising 8th graders who took Math 7-Compacted are also able to take Challenger Geometry simultaneously with Algebra I in 8th grade. 

7th and 8th Grade Pathways

This spring 2023 video outlines different pathways available to 7th and 8th graders, along with a rough overview of high school options.