MATH ACCELERATION PROGRAM
Spring/Summer 2025
Math Placement for Possible Acceleration
The Milpitas Unified School District has created math acceleration opportunities for all students to ensure appropriate math placement. Similarly, the district places great emphasis on the developmental and social emotional well being of our students. As such, Milpitas math teachers, site and district leaders, work together yearly to review the district’s placement procedures to make sure we provide students opportunity to accelerate at a developmentally appropriate pace. Please know, some students who may have academic capabilities to handle higher level courses may not be emotionally ready for those courses. This is ok as each individual student has a unique math journey/pathway.
Math Placement Rubric
Each spring/summer Milpitas students in 6th-11th grade are provided acceleration opportunities in math. Acceleration opportunities are guided by the math placement rubric. The rubric takes into consideration various metrics in identifying students who show an aptitude for accelerated placement. The rubrics differ slightly between the grade levels and schools. Please visit the math placement rubrics page for specific metrics used at each grade level and school.
Yearly Acceleration Opportunities and Parameters
Math acceleration opportunities occur yearly. Students who perform well on the math placement rubrics will be given the opportunity to enter into the next highest math class at the start of their subsequent school year. Students can only accelerate one level of math per year. Students may not accelerate over two math levels in any given calendar year. As an example, should a 6th grade student perform well on the rubric they will be given the option to start their 7th grade school year in Math 8. Please see the math pathway diagram for a year by year pathway progression.
Mathematics Diagnostic Tests
Current 6th grade students will take a diagnostic test during the month of May. Parents and students will have an opportunity to opt-out of said test. A parent opt-out letter is available from your school or by downloading the student opt-out letter. Letters should be turned into the student’s classroom teacher by the end of April.
Current 7th grade students at Rancho will take two diagnostic tests in April or May.
Current 7th grade students at Russell will take two tests in April or May. Parents will have an opportunity to opt their student out of acceleration testing. A ParentSquare opt-out permission slip will be sent the final week of April.
Current 8th-11th grade students will have the opportunity to take MDTP diagnostic tests at the end of summer just prior to the beginning of the new school year. Interested students should fill out the Intent to Attempt Math Acceleration Form for the 25-26 School Year. Sign ups begin March 17th and end on Friday, June 11th at 5pm. Only students who wish to be considered for acceleration need to sign up to take the diagnostic test. The specific testing dates are July 25th and July 28th. Testing dates and times will be sent to students over the summer in mid July via email. The test will be administered at Milpitas High School. Please read this letter for more information.
*Special Note for current Math 1 Students
REQUIRED: Students currently enrolled in Math 1, who wish to skip over Math 2 and enroll in Math 3 in the Fall, must enroll and complete a Math 2 or Geometry class over the summer. The required Math 2/Geometry class may be taken through any accredited program, college, or university. This is due to UC/CUS requiring Math 2/Geometry seat time for their admission. Students will not be allowed to participate in the MDTP Math 3 Readiness Test without taking a summer Math 2 or Geometry class.
MUSD and SJCC Partnership: Summer Math Jam Course Opportunities
San Jose Community College Milpitas Extension and Milpitas Unified School District have partnered to offer Milpitas students free summer opportunities to further their mathematics education. The SJCC Math Jam courses will be taught by credentialed community college professors. While these classes are not required, they have been designed to specifically prepare students for the MDTP diagnostic testing within the MUSD mathematics pathway. Students interested should complete the Prospective Math Jam Summer 2025 Form to begin the application process; the deadline is May 9th. Please see the letter you will be receiving from Milpitas High School for more specific information on the program and application process.
Math Placement Rubric
Each spring/summer Milpitas students in 6th-11th grade are provided acceleration opportunities in math. Acceleration opportunities are guided by the math placement rubric. The rubric takes into consideration various metrics in identifying students who show an aptitude for accelerated placement. The rubrics differ slightly between the grade levels and schools. Please visit the math placement rubrics page for specific metrics used at each grade level and school.
Yearly Acceleration Opportunities and Parameters
Math acceleration opportunities occur yearly. Students who perform well on the math placement rubrics will be given the opportunity to enter into the next highest math class at the start of their subsequent school year. Students can only accelerate one level of math per year. Students may not accelerate over two math levels in any given calendar year. As an example, should a 6th grade student perform well on the rubric they will be given the option to start their 7th grade school year in Math 8. Please see the math pathway diagram for a year by year pathway progression.
Mathematics Diagnostic Tests
Current 6th grade students will take a diagnostic test during the month of May. Parents and students will have an opportunity to opt-out of said test. A parent opt-out letter is available from your school or by downloading the student opt-out letter. Letters should be turned into the student’s classroom teacher by the end of April.
Current 7th grade students at Rancho will take two diagnostic tests in April or May.
Current 7th grade students at Russell will take two tests in April or May. Parents will have an opportunity to opt their student out of acceleration testing. A ParentSquare opt-out permission slip will be sent the final week of April.
Current 8th-11th grade students will have the opportunity to take MDTP diagnostic tests at the end of summer just prior to the beginning of the new school year. Interested students should fill out the Intent to Attempt Math Acceleration Form for the 25-26 School Year. Sign ups begin March 17th and end on Friday, June 11th at 5pm. Only students who wish to be considered for acceleration need to sign up to take the diagnostic test. The specific testing dates are July 25th and July 28th. Testing dates and times will be sent to students over the summer in mid July via email. The test will be administered at Milpitas High School. Please read this letter for more information.
*Special Note for current Math 1 Students
REQUIRED: Students currently enrolled in Math 1, who wish to skip over Math 2 and enroll in Math 3 in the Fall, must enroll and complete a Math 2 or Geometry class over the summer. The required Math 2/Geometry class may be taken through any accredited program, college, or university. This is due to UC/CUS requiring Math 2/Geometry seat time for their admission. Students will not be allowed to participate in the MDTP Math 3 Readiness Test without taking a summer Math 2 or Geometry class.
MUSD and SJCC Partnership: Summer Math Jam Course Opportunities
San Jose Community College Milpitas Extension and Milpitas Unified School District have partnered to offer Milpitas students free summer opportunities to further their mathematics education. The SJCC Math Jam courses will be taught by credentialed community college professors. While these classes are not required, they have been designed to specifically prepare students for the MDTP diagnostic testing within the MUSD mathematics pathway. Students interested should complete the Prospective Math Jam Summer 2025 Form to begin the application process; the deadline is May 9th. Please see the letter you will be receiving from Milpitas High School for more specific information on the program and application process.
MUSD Math Pathways Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the math acceleration rubric?
A: All students are assessed according to specific grade level/school specific rubrics used to determine math placement.
Q: How do I sign my student up for the possibility to accelerate in Math?
A: All current 6th and 7th grade students will automatically be afforded the opportunity to accelerate in May. All current 8th-11th grade students who wish to accelerate will fill out the Math Diagnostic Intent Form indicating the appropriate diagnostic test they will take in late July/early August.
Q: How and when will our student be notified of student math placement?
A: All families of current 6th and 7th grade students will be notified via e-mail of their performance on the rubric during the first two weeks of summer. All incoming high school students will be notified of their placement shortly after the late July/early August test administration, typically a week later.
Q: Our family has moved into Milpitas Unified School District over the summer. Can my student still be afforded an acceleration opportunity?
A: Yes. Please complete the following steps:
Questions
For additional questions regarding the specific timing of the assessment, please reach out to your school site. For questions regarding the placement rubric or the math placement policy itself, please feel free to reach out to Maurissa Koide, Director of Learning and Development, at 408-635-2600 X6054.
Respectfully,
A: All students are assessed according to specific grade level/school specific rubrics used to determine math placement.
Q: How do I sign my student up for the possibility to accelerate in Math?
A: All current 6th and 7th grade students will automatically be afforded the opportunity to accelerate in May. All current 8th-11th grade students who wish to accelerate will fill out the Math Diagnostic Intent Form indicating the appropriate diagnostic test they will take in late July/early August.
Q: How and when will our student be notified of student math placement?
A: All families of current 6th and 7th grade students will be notified via e-mail of their performance on the rubric during the first two weeks of summer. All incoming high school students will be notified of their placement shortly after the late July/early August test administration, typically a week later.
Q: Our family has moved into Milpitas Unified School District over the summer. Can my student still be afforded an acceleration opportunity?
A: Yes. Please complete the following steps:
- Complete your student’s district registration.
- Confirm your student has been given a 5 digit student ID
- Students entering 7th and 8th grade will be given an acceleration opportunity in the fall of 2025. Students entering 9th-12th grades will fill out the Math Diagnostic Intent Form. Once completed, students will be contacted via email with the exact date and time of the MDTP Readiness test.
Questions
For additional questions regarding the specific timing of the assessment, please reach out to your school site. For questions regarding the placement rubric or the math placement policy itself, please feel free to reach out to Maurissa Koide, Director of Learning and Development, at 408-635-2600 X6054.
Respectfully,
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Ms. Maurissa Koide
Director of Learning and Development
Director of Learning and Development
