SFUSD to offer Algebra I for eighth-graders at 10 schools
Ten San Francisco middle schools will see Algebra I courses back on the schedule this fall for the first time in a decade, the first group in a three-year phase-in to fully integrate the course back into eighth-grade students’ schedules.
District officials announced Friday which of the 13 middle schools and six K-8 schools would offer Algebra I in the upcoming school year and how it would be piloted at each site.
The plan is to test out three versions of schoolday Algebra I if the proposal is passed: enrolling all eighth graders in Algebra I; enrolling students based on interest or readiness; or giving students the opportunity to have both eighth-grade math and Algebra I on their schedule.
“We are excited to roll out Algebra 1 in eighth grade across SFUSD middle schools and K-8 schools for the 2024-25 school year,” Superintendent Matt Wayne said in a statement Friday afternoon. “We are thoughtfully making these changes with input from our educators and families, recognizing that it will be a learning year for SFUSD to implement Algebra 1 in eighth grade.”
Algebra I for all eighth-grade students will be piloted at Alice Fong Yu K-8 School, Roosevelt Middle School and A.P. Giannini Middle School, with support offered for those who need it.
The readiness and interest pilot will be at Rooftop K-8 School, enrolling students in an eighth-grade math and Algebra I compression course.
The additional math period pilot will be at Aptos Middle School, Willie Brown Jr. Middle School, Everett Middle School, Francisco Middle School, Marina Middle School and Presidio Middle School, giving students the opportunity to take two math classes at the same time.
The pilot schools were chosen based on staff and student readiness, district officials said.
Students at the nine schools not getting a pilot program will be able to take an online algebra course or a summer course.
District officials pulled the course out of middle schools 10 years ago, saying they wanted to delay tracking students into separate math sequences until high school, an effort they hoped would push more disadvantaged students into higher math courses.
The results were disappointing, district officials said. Parents argued the move only held back high-achieving students.
For several years, parents and students have urged the district to restore Algebra I to eighthgrade offerings, staging protests and walkouts, filing a lawsuit and overwhelmingly passing a ballot measure earlier this month urging the school board to do so.
Offering the course in middle school allows students to speed up through the math course sequence, so they can take calculus in high school without having to take summer school or double up on math courses at some point.
District officials said the goal is to ensure all students are ready for Algebra I in the eighth grade and ensure more disadvantaged students reach higher levels of math.
“Expanding access to Algebra 1 for all SFUSD eighth graders this coming academic year is an example of our commitment to educational excellence,” said school board President Lainie Motamedi, in the statement. “All of our students will gain access to advanced math coursework as these pilots roll out across our middle and K-8 schools.”