Secondary Mathematics: Curriculum & Instructional Approach

Secondary mathematics in CHCCS is designed to develop deep mathematical understanding, strong reasoning skills, and meaningful connections between mathematical ideas and the real world. Rather than emphasizing speed or rote procedures, our curriculum prioritizes sense-making, problem solving, and application. Across grades 6–12, students engage with mathematics as an active, exploratory discipline—one that values curiosity, persistence, and multiple ways of thinking.

Instruction in CHCCS secondary math classrooms is grounded in inquiry-based, student-centered learning. Students regularly explore rich tasks, ask questions, collaborate with peers, and reason through real-world and contextualized problems. Teachers guide learning by selecting purposeful tasks, facilitating discourse, and supporting students as they reflect, refine ideas, and formalize mathematical understanding. This approach promotes conceptual depth, critical thinking, and engagement while fostering a growth mindset and strong mathematical identity.

Our curriculum resources and instructional frameworks are intentionally aligned to support this vision. Lessons are structured to move students through a coherent progression—from experience and exploration, to sense-making and discussion, to formalization and practice. Multiple representations, student talk, and written and visual explanations are central features of instruction, ensuring that all learners—including multilingual learners and students with diverse learning needs—can access, express, and deepen their understanding of mathematics. Together, these practices create classrooms where students see math as meaningful, connected, and empowering.  For additional enrichment at home for interested students, check out these rich tasks.

Math Pathways, Placement Information, and Course Options

Please refer to the Family Guide for information about math pathways and placement.

For more information about pathways, acceleration, and course options please see Secondary Math Pathways and Course Options document for information and visuals about pathways and course options from 6th grade through 12th grade.  

According to the state graduation requirement policy, students must earn four mathematics credits at the high school level, which include Math 1, Math 2, Math 3, and a fourth level mathematics course.  For more information about math graduation requirements, please visit North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Math Options Chart.

Math Courses

MATH 6

Grade 6 students focus on ratios and proportional relationships, rational numbers, and arithmetic with algebraic expressions. They solve one-variable equations and inequalities and explore relationships between independent and dependent variables. In the geometry unit, students tackle real-world and mathematical problems involving area, surface area, and volume. They also study statistical variability and learn to describe data distributions. Advanced Math 6 includes all of Math 6 content as well as approximately half of the Math 7 standards. The course concludes with the Grade 6 End-of-Grade (EOG) Exam. Math 6 Standards,

MATH 7

Grade 7 students explore rational numbers, equivalent expressions, and proportional relationships.  In geometrys, they study geometric figures and solve problems involving angle measures, area, surface area, and volume. They also learn abut probability models and how to draw informal inferences about populations.   Advanced Math 7 completes the remaining Math 7 Standards that are not in Advanced 6 and all of Math 8.  The course concludes with the Grade 7 End of Grade (EOG) exam.  Math 7 Standards

MATH 8

Grade 8 students explore linear equations and inequalitites, linear functiobs, solve systems of linear equations through graphing, rational and irrational numbers.  They examine congruence and similarity, angle relationships, the Pythagorean Theorem, and the volumes of cylinders, cones, and spheres.  The course concludes with the Grade 7 End of Grade (EOG) exam. Math 8 Standards

MATH 1

Math 1 is the first course in North Carolina's High School Math Graduation Sequence. It covers linear, exponential, and quadratic functions, as well as geometric proofs involving triangles and quadrilaterals using parallel and perpendicular lines, midpoints, and distances. Students also build on middle school statistics, analyzing univariate and bivariate data. The course concludes with the Math 1 End-of-Course Exam Math 1 Standards

MATH 2