Why Advanced Math Matters
Once a student is denied advanced math placement in grade 5, there is no way for those students who are denied to "catch up" and join the exclusive math and science curriculum pathways.
Math Curriculum Pathways
The advanced math curriculum pathway is shown in orange at the top of the Sequential Map below.
Once the advanced math path begins, students not selected at the end of grade 5 cannot access this learning pathway without extreme efforts outside of the school curriculum that are typically not successful.
Science Curriculum Pathways
LEAPES, the most advanced science curriculum offered begins in the 7th grade, is shown in orange along the bottom in the curriculum map below. LEAPES teaches two years of science in the 8th grade - Living Environment (LE) and AP Environmental Science (APES).
Guidance counselors, colleges and peers generally recognize the LEAPES pathway as the most rigorous Manhasset has to offer. Students in LEAPES complete one extra AP course which allows them to increase their cumulative GPA relative to peers. Those in the program often get more supportive college recommendations and get recognized at graduation as the top of the class.
When applying to college, LEAPES students can signal to colleges that they are in the top 10% of the class because all others were weeded out in the 5th grade based on the math selection processes that limited their access thereafter.
Source: Curriculum pathway maps were sourced from Manhasset Schools and modified to reflect progression from grade 6.