At Legacy Christian School, we strive to challenge and support each child’s unique gifts, including their abilities in math. Our Advanced Math Program is designed for students who demonstrate readiness for accelerated math instruction. This guide explains how we identify and place students in this program.

• Students are first identified at the end of the year for placement the following school year.
• Identification happens at the end of each school year. All students are considered each year, but must meet the criteria.
• The Advanced Math Committee Meets in April through May to evaluate the data and the student as a whole.

We follow best practices by using multiple measures to get a complete picture of your child’s math skills, including:

• NWEA MAP Assessment: A nationally recognized, computer-adaptive test that measures your child’s current math achievement compared to students nationwide.
  • Kindergarten students: 98th percentile or above
  • Grades 1-8: 95th percentile or above
• ILEARN Assessment:
  • Students must score “Above Proficiency” on the spring ILEARN summative math assessment, demonstrating strong mastery of grade-level content.
• Curriculum-Based Assessments:
  • These may include end-of-year math tests and benchmark assessments aligned with the Legacy Christian math curriculum.
• Teacher Recommendation:
  ○ Teachers provide valuable insight into your child’s classroom performance, reasoning ability, work habits, and enthusiasm for math.

No single test or score determines placement. We consider all these factors together. Students have to have 3 data points to meet the criteria for placement in the program.

• For Grades 1–5, advanced math students attend the math class one grade level above their current grade during math time only. They return to their own class for all other subjects.
• For Grades 6 and 7, students also take math one grade above their level.
• In 8th grade, advanced math students take Algebra I, with the opportunity to advance to Geometry as a Freshman

• Notification: Families will be notified of placement decisions by the middle of June.
  (For the first year of implementation, notification will occur by mid-July.)
• Ongoing Communication: Teachers will continue to monitor progress and share updates throughout the school year.
• Students not placed in the program will continue to receive strong, grade-level instruction with opportunities for growth and enrichment.

We encourage parents to reach out to your child’s teacher or administrator for more information about the placement process or your child’s learning.

If you believe your child should be reconsidered for placement, you may submit an appeal between June 20 and June 30 using the Advanced Math Placement Appeal Form (click here). The Advanced Math Placement Committee will review any additional evidence and notify families of a final decision before the start of the school year.

As you consider whether advanced math is the right path for your child, we encourage you to keep the end in mind. Being gifted in math doesn’t always mean a child will enjoy or benefit from the demands of higher-level courses like Advanced Calculus in high school. We want each student’s journey to be joyful, sustainable, and aligned with their God given strengths and interests—not driven by pressure or acceleration alone.

At Legacy Christian School, our mission is to provide an excellent, Christ-centered education that supports both academic growth and spiritual development. We are dedicated to helping students discover, develop, and use their gifts in a way that honors God and serves others.