Mathematics Course Information

Mathematics

Graduation Requirement:

Three Credits

“Mathematics has a beauty and excitement all its own.”

The Mathematics department at Mounds Park Academy strives to help each student discover, appreciate, and enjoy mathematics through active learning at all levels.

We believe in giving every student a chance to succeed in the most challenging yet appropriate math class.  To this end, we begin to accelerate our most advanced math students in seventh grade.  Although these students are ready for an Algebra 1 class, mere acceleration for advanced math students is not enough.  They also need greater depth and more difficult material to stimulate their thinking as they develop their math skills. Our honors program provides both acceleration and depth, motivating students to achieve as they progress through our curriculum.  

One of our main goals is for each student to be appropriately challenged by his or her math class.  Accordingly, some of our students benefit from a slower pace that provides an additional year to prepare them for the more abstract concepts of Algebra 1. These students begin their study of Algebra in eighth grade giving them both the necessary math experience and the time to be successful in future math courses. 

Overall, we have found that by creating a climate that celebrates learning and achievement, we are able to keep all students interested in pursuing math throughout their high school careers resulting in an almost equal distribution between males and females in upper level math classes.

There are many opportunities for interested students to participate in math activities outside of the classroom.  In middle school, 5th and 6th grade students participate in Math Masters. We have girls who attend the Girls in Engineering and Math (GEM) program at the University of Minnesota.  We have a math club for 7th and 8th graders that meets during the school day, allowing students to participate even if they have after school activities.  MPA has brought students to the state MATHCOUNTS competition for 10 out of the last 15 years and we have been a MATHCOUNTS Club Program Gold Level school for the past two years.  In 2008-2009, MPA was the only Minnesota school to earn that honor.  In upper school, students can participate in both the American Mathematics Competition and in Math League.  Additionally, each year we send a team to the Concordia University Math Day.  In 2007 MPA was the overall champion of that competition.

Typical Mounds Park Academy Sequence of Math Classes

Students mature mathematically at different rates.  Because of this, students have the opportunity to switch between the regular sequence and the advanced sequence depending on their class performance, student/parent request or teacher recommendation.  There may be additional course work required or a placement test for some of these changes.