The Cherokee County Secondary Mathematics curriculum reflects national mathematics goals, Georgia Department of Education’s Performance Standards and Cherokee County’s Student Performance Standards. The study of mathematics in Cherokee County is approached from the fundamental view that mathematics is a dynamic discipline. The mathematics program consists of problem solving, communication, reasoning and making connections. It includes the study of numbers and operations, algebra, functions, geometry, trigonometry, statistics, probability, discrete mathematics, analysis and calculus. Technology and graphing calculators are an integral component of the mathematics program. All students are required to take 4 years of high school mathematics courses.
Courses Offered:
Algebra: Concepts and Connections
This is the first course in a sequence of three high school courses designed to ensure career and college readiness. Students will apply their algebraic and geometric reasoning skills to make sense of problems involving algebra, geometry, bivariate data, and statistics. This course focuses on algebraic, quantitative, geometric, graphical, and statistical reasoning. In this course, students will continue to enhance their algebraic reasoning skills when analyzing and applying a deep understanding of linear functions, sums and products of rational and irrational numbers, systems of linear inequalities, distance, midpoint, slope, area, perimeter, nonlinear equations and functions, quadratic expressions, equations and functions, exponential expressions, equations, and functions, and statistical reasoning. High school course content standards are listed by big ideas including Data and Statistical Reasoning, Probabilistic Reasoning, Functional and Graphical Reasoning, Patterning and Algebraic Reasoning, and Geometric and Spatial Reasoning.
Geometry: Concepts and Connections
This is the second course in a sequence of three high school courses designed to ensure career and college readiness. This course is intended to enhance students’ geometric, algebraic, graphical, and probabilistic reasoning skills. Students will apply their algebraic and geometric reasoning skills to make sense of problems involving geometry, trigonometry, algebra, probability, and statistics. Students will continue to enhance their analytical geometry and reasoning skills when analyzing and applying a deep understanding of polynomial expressions, proofs, constructions, rigid motions and transformations, similarity, congruence, circles, right triangle trigonometry, geometric measurement, and conditional probability. High school course content standards are listed by big ideas including Data and Statistical Reasoning, Probabilistic Reasoning, Functional and Graphical Reasoning, Patterning and Algebraic Reasoning, and Geometric and Spatial Reasoning.
Advanced Algebra: Concepts & Connections
This is the third course in a sequence of courses designed to ensure career and college readiness. It is intended to prepare students for fourth mathematics course options relevant to their postsecondary pursuits. High school course content standards are listed by big idea, including Data and Statistical Reasoning, Probabilistic Reasoning, Functional and Graphical Reasoning, Patterning and Algebraic Reasoning, and Geometric and Spatial Reasoning. In Advanced Algebra: Concepts & Connections, students will continue to enhance their data and statistical reasoning skills as they learn specific ways to collect, critique, analyze, and interpret data. Students will learn how to use matrices and linear programming to represent data and to solve contextually relevant problems. Students will strengthen their geometric and spatial reasoning skills as they learn how to solve trigonometric equations using the unit circle. In previous courses, students studied how to use linear and quadratic functions to model real-life phenomena. In Advanced Algebra: Concepts and Connections, students will further develop their functional and graphical reasoning as they explore and analyze structures and patterns for exponential, logarithmic, radical, polynomial, and rational expressions, equations and functions to further understand the world around them.
Enhanced Advanced Algebra and AP Precalculus: Concepts and Connections
This course is a thoughtful blend of the topics from Advanced Algebra: Concepts & Connections and Precalculus. This is a single credit course, intended to provide students the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts that are critical to the study of advanced fourth mathematics course options, including Calculus. Students will continue to enhance their understanding of data and statistical reasoning, functional and graphical reasoning, patterning and algebraic reasoning, and geometric and spatial reasoning. There should be an emphasis on notational fluency and the use of multiple representations as students engage with all topics. Some of those topics include, sequences and series with the incorporation of convergence and divergence; conic sections as implicitly defined curves; the six trigonometric functions and their inverses; applications of trigonometry such as modeling
periodic phenomena, modeling with vectors and parametric equations, solving oblique triangles in contextual situations, graphing in the Polar Plane; solutions of trigonometric equations in a variety of contexts; and the manipulation and application of trigonometric identities. In previous courses, students studied how to use linear and quadratic functions to model real life phenomena. In the Enhanced Advanced Algebra and AP Precalculus: Concepts and Connections course, students will further develop their algebraic, functional, and graphical reasoning as they explore and analyze structures and patterns for exponential, logarithmic, radical, polynomial, piecewise and rational expressions, equations, and functions to further understand the world around them. Topics should be analyzed in multiple ways, including verbal and written, numerical, algebraic, and graphical presentations. Instruction and assessment should include the appropriate use of technology. Concepts should be investigated and applied, where appropriate, within the context of realistic phenomena.
Precalculus
This is a fourth-year mathematics course option for students who have completed Advanced Algebra: Concepts and Connections (or the equivalent). The course is intended to provide students with opportunities to develop a deeper understanding of Algebraic concepts that are critical to the study of Calculus. Students will also deepen their understanding of trigonometry and its applications. Throughout the Precalculus course there should be a focus on notational fluency and the use of multiple representations. The course includes the study and analysis of piecewise and rational functions; limits and continuity as related to piecewise and rational functions; sequences and series with the incorporation of convergence and divergence; conic sections as implicitly defined curves; the six trigonometric functions and their inverses; applications of trigonometry such as modeling periodic phenomena, modeling with vectors and parametric equations, solving oblique triangles in contextual situations, graphing in the Polar Plane; solutions of trigonometric equations in a variety of contexts; and the manipulation and application of trigonometric identities. Topics should be analyzed in multiple ways, including verbal and written, numerical, algebraic, and graphical presentations. Instruction and assessment should include the appropriate use of technology. Concepts should be introduced and investigated, where appropriate, in the context of realistic phenomena.
Advanced Financial Algebra
This is a fourth-year mathematics course option designed for students who have successfully completed Advanced Algebra: Concepts and Connections. The course extends and deepens student understanding of algebra, statistics, and research design while introducing students to relevant financial and business applications. Students will create, apply, and interpret a wide variety of algebraic function models to aid in real-world decision making. Statistical research and analysis will be used to determine the efficacy of model applications and further assist in exploring scenarios with financial implications. Financial contexts for these mathematical concepts will include business operations and optimization, tax considerations, insurance and risk management, banking services, budget creation, loan and credit analysis, investment strategies and retirement plans, stock market performance, real estate fundamentals, and automobile ownership. Instruction and assessment should include the appropriate use of manipulatives and technology. Topics should be represented in multiple ways, such as concrete/pictorial, verbal/written, numeric/data-based, graphical, and symbolic. Concepts should be introduced and used, where appropriate, in the context of realistic phenomena.
Statistical Reasoning
This course offers students opportunities to strengthen their understanding of the statistical method of inquiry and statistical simulations. Students will formulate statistical investigative questions to be answered using data, will design and implement a plan to collect the appropriate data, will select appropriate graphical and numerical methods for data analysis, and will interpret their results to make connections with the initial question. The Mathematical Modeling and Statistical Reasoning Frameworks will provide the foundation for instruction and assessment. Topics should be introduced and assessed using simulations and appropriate supporting technology.
Advanced Placement Precalculus
AP Precalculus prepares students for other college-level mathematics and science courses. Through regular practice, students build deep mastery of modeling and functions, and they examine scenarios through multiple representations. The course framework delineates content and skills common to college precalculus courses that are foundational for careers in mathematics, physics, biology, health science, social science, and data science.
Advanced Placement Statistics
AP Statistics is an introductory college-level statistics course that introduces students to the major concepts and tools for collecting, analyzing, and drawing conclusions from data. Students cultivate their understanding of statistics using technology, investigations, problem solving, and writing as they explore concepts like variation and distribution; patterns and uncertainty; and data-based predictions, decisions, and conclusions.
Advanced Placement Calculus AB
AP Calculus AB is an introductory college-level calculus course. Students cultivate their understanding of differential and integral calculus through engaging with real-world problems represented graphically, numerically, analytically, and verbally and using definitions and theorems to build arguments and justify conclusions as they explore concepts like change, limits, and the analysis of functions.
Advanced Placement Calculus BC
AP Calculus BC is an introductory college-level calculus course. Students cultivate their understanding of differential and integral calculus through engaging with real-world problems represented graphically, numerically, analytically, and verbally and using definitions and theorems to build arguments and justify conclusions as they explore concepts like change, limits, and the analysis of functions.