Only a small fraction of HSs require 4 years math. Some recommend it, which largely has to do with state guidelines, but few require it. For example, California public colleges currently “recommend” taking 4 years math (this may be changing soon), but do not require it. CA public high schools usually have a large portion of students who attend CA public colleges, so CA HSs also generally “recommend” taking 4 years math, but rarely require it.
As I’ve said, States and schools vary. Just looked up MA standards to graduate, you need 4 years. Can be lower level but you need 4 units/years. YMMV. Sure as above it varies by state and school. One size doesn’t fit all.
What Math and Science Units Must be Earned to Graduate with a Diploma in Massachusetts?
The MassCore program requires 4 units of math be taken, and algebra II (or its equivalent in the integrated math courses) must be included.
This site says it has 2019 information, by which time more states had jumped on the 4-year bandwagon, though since it isn’t DoEd I’m not sure if it’s perfectly reliable. (I’ll assume it is for now, though.) Intriguingly, most of the states requiring 4 years of math are in the South: High School Graduation Requirements - Education Commission of the States
So according to that site, 17 out of the 47 states (including DC) that have statewide credit-based graduation requirements require 4 years of math. Slightly over a third isn’t a majority, certainly, but it doesn’t feel like “a small fraction” to me.
(You may have meant individual high schools rather than systems, of course, which means California, New York, and Texas presumably tip the scales pretty intensely, no matter what any other states do. But either way, a non-trivial number of high school students are required to take 4 years of math.)
Four years of high school math does not necessarily include calculus. A student starting at algebra 1 in 9th grade will have precalculus as the fourth year of math.
I’m not sure anyone mentioned 4 years of calculus. What post are you referring to? I can’t imagine that calculus is taken by everyone even at a top technical magnet school. Just would not happen. Kids come from different levels in middle school.
In NC it’s 4 years of math and Math I, Math II, Math III are required for non-accelerated students and then an additional 4th year of math which could be Pre-Calc, could be Math IV, could be AP Stats depending on the high school. We don’t do Algebra, Geometry, Algebra II anymore.
Our school system’s “Traditional” “recommended mathematical sequence” is Algebra in 8 through AB or DE Calc in 12th with “AND/OR DE Intro to Programming, DE Statistics, A.P. Statistics, A.P. Computer Science Principle, A.P. Computer Science A OR Trigonometry” in 12th.
The “Honors” sequence starts Algebra in 7th, AB in 11th and BC in 12th, with the above AND/OR in both 11th and 12th.
Along with notes:
Option: Students will be permitted to sign up and pay for summer school acceleration
Option Double-up: Students will take Geometry and Algebra 2 during any year in place of an elective course
There are typically 2 teachers with ~6 classes, 125 students (of a class of ~580), teaching Honors, which drops to one teacher, two classes, ~50 students by BC. I saw a fair number of AP Stats periods scheduled, so maybe quite a few AB 11th, Stats 12th kids.
From what I’ve seen, this is standard at the better schools in the area (the local paper ranks ours 18th of 109 in the region).
There are always a few exceptions. My D started Algebra in 6th, with BC in 11th, four classmates are with her, one rushed ahead another year and one two years.
Math IV has more stats for one thing. Here is the NC Standard Course of Study description for each:
NC Math 4 Course Description:
The primary focus of this course is on functions and statistical thinking, continuing the study of algebra, functions, trigonometry and statistical concepts previously experienced in NC Math 1-3. The course is designed to be a capstone to introductory statistical concepts. Additionally, the course intentionally integrates concepts from algebra and functions to demonstrate the close relationship between algebraic reasoning as applied to the characteristics and behaviors of more complex functions. In many cases, undergraduate students majoring in nonSTEM fields will take an entry-level Algebra or Introductory Statistics course. Students will be prepared for
college level algebra and statistics or as a bridge to prepare students for Precalculus or other advanced math courses.
Precalculus Course Description:
The purpose of Precalculus is to build upon the study of algebra, functions, and trigonometry experienced in previous high school mathematics courses. This course will build on students’ algebraic skills and understanding of functions to delve into real world phenomena and to deepen understanding of the functions in the course. This course is designed for students pursuing careers in STEM-related fields. Students will be prepared for Calculus, AP Calculus and any entry-level college course.
Seems like Math IV is for students who did not do well enough in Math I, II, III (= algebra 1, geometry, algebra 2 in content) to go directly to precalculus or (AP or college intro) statistics, based on the last bit of the course description “as a bridge to prepare students for Precalculus or other advanced math courses”.
I don’t think so at my Dd’s school, but this is the NCSOS for the whole state so there could be schools where it is used that way. I think Math4 is basically the required 4th math class for non-math kids, like in college where they have Gen Ed math classes for non-STEM majors. Math 4 = non-STEM kids, Precalc=STEM kids
“In theory, students on the +1 track should be good at math, and those on the +2 or high track should be among the top students in math.”
You forgot +3 which is common in some local bay area hs - Pre-calc honors n 9th, BC in 10th, Stats in 11th, Math at the local cc (Linear Algebra or MVC, something along those lines). Here the +1 students do not think they’re good at math even if they are by most standards.