KCS establishes new mathematics requirements for graduation*

In anticipation of the State Board of Education adopting a similar policy, the Knox County Board of Education has set new graduation requirements for math for KCS students. (See policy IHF-1 Graduation Requirements (Mathematics)).

What is the new requirement?

To better prepare students for post-secondary education, the Knox County Board of Education approved a new policy requiring all students to take a math course in each of their four years of high school. The policy goes into effect for students entering the ninth grade in 2007.

Current high school students who are pursuing a University or Dual Path must enroll in a math course in their senior year.

Members of the class of 2008 who are on the Technical Path must have 3 units of mathematics, one of which must be Algebra I or Technical Algebra. 

The classes of 2009 & 2010 on the Technical Path must have a Geometry or Technical Geometry unit to graduate. 

Students currently enrolled in high school electing to take the College Prep Path must complete Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, plus an additional higher level math or related course. (More information on Course Planning).

What are the benefits?

Of all pre-college curricula, the highest level of mathematics one studies in secondary school has the strongest continuing influence on bachelor’s degree completion.  Finishing a course beyond the level of Algebra 2 (for example, trigonometry or pre-calculus) more than doubles the odds that a student who enters post secondary education will complete a bachelor’s degree, according to a U.S. Department of Education study. (see table below).

                               
 What influence does math studies have on ACT Scores?

What are the Options?

Here are the course options for students needing to meet these requirements. For a description of each course and a curriculum guide, see Math Course Descriptions. See also the high school mathematics course sequence chart.

3103 Algebra II

 (Prerequisites: Algebra I and Geometry credit with a grade of “C” or better or Departmental Recommendation)

3129 Statistics AP (Advanced Placement)

 (Prerequisites: Algebra II with a "B" or better and College Prep English or higher) 

3124 Advanced Algebra and Trigonometry

 (Prerequisites: Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II and Departmental Recommendation)

3126 Pre-Calculus

 (Prerequisites: Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II with “A” or “B” average grades and/or Departmental Recommendation)  

3127 AP Calculus AB (Advanced Placement)

 (Prerequisites: Pre-Calculus (1 unit) and Departmental Recommendation)

3128 AP Calculus BC (Advanced Placement)

(Prerequisites: AP Calculus AB (1 unit) and Departmental Recommendation)

A word about HOPE Scholarship requirements

• Entering freshmen (high school class of 2005 and thereafter) must have a minimum of a 21 ACT score or 980 SAT
  
  OR
  
• Overall minimum 3.0 grade point average (GPA) cumulative through the eighth semester of which school.

*This information is available in PDF format for printing. (Download Math Brochure)