Dear Parents and Guardians,
The Sayreville School District strives to provide the best possible education for our children. We believe that providing a variety of levels for courses offered in both the Mathematics and Language Arts Departments is one way where we are able to provide the appropriate course for all students.
In the middle school, Mathematics courses are leveled in 7th and 8th grade, whereby English courses are leveled only in the 8th grade. Students who meet specific criteria in particular grades may be recommended for Honors classes in one or both of these subjects. In Mathematics a student’s current course determines his placement in courses when he or she enrolls in the high school.
Placement in Mathematics and English courses take into account numerous factors. The main criteria for placement is the recommendation of the student’s current teacher. It has been found that the current teacher, who is exposed to the child’s ability and work ethic all year, is the most knowledgeable of the student’s level of performance and the requirements of the course the following year. Along with teacher recommendation, the following may be used by members of the department to determine placement:
- Grades in current class
- NJSLA scores
- District Writing Samples
- Quarterly Benchmarks
- Departmental Rubrics (English Department)
There is of course flexibility in the placement process. Teachers will recommend a student for a particular course and that student will be enrolled in that course. As test scores are returned from the State, modifications in placements may be necessary based on individual results. Additionally, if there are questions about a particular placement, the Guidance Department and the Departmental Supervisors can be contacted for further information.
Students and parents of students who are interested in enrolling in an honors level course should keep in mind that the work required to be successful in the course will be more demanding than a non-honors course but will ultimately be more rewarding. It has been found that students that are successful in honors courses possess the following attributes:
- Highly organized and have time management skills
- Can analyze, evaluate and interpret complex concepts
- Can successfully work independently
- Will be expected to analyze more complex texts
- Are motivate to apply what they have learned to real life situations
- Have a genuine interest in the subject and “do not mind” the extra work
If you have any questions please feel free to contact us.
Dr. Mala Maharana
Supervisor of Mathematics, Business and Computer Science
(732) 525-5252 ext. 8121 |
Mrs. Kimberly Grossman
Supervisor of Language Arts
(732) 525-5252 ext. 8126 |
