For decades, the math department has taught math in the order of Algebra I, Algebra II and then Geometry. This year, they made the decision to flip the order of the Geometry and Algebra II courses to better align with the national curriculum. But, this change did not happen overnight, and it involved a lot of people to make it happen.

Head of the math department Natalie McElligott said, “When I first arrived [at SPA], we were using a set of textbooks called High School Mathematics that were so old that they were completely out of print.” The old textbooks taught math in the order of Algebra I, Algebra II and then Geometry, which is the order SPA adopted.

There were benefits that came from teaching the courses this way. Math teacher Ethan Somes said, “Students do get stronger algebra skills for Geometry by taking the Algebra II course. However, a year gap between Precalculus and Algebra II gets really hard.”

However, in the long run, flipping the Geometry and Algebra II courses will have more benefits. The math department believes that it will be especially helpful for students starting at SPA as high schoolers. Many kids coming into SPA usually have already taken Algebra I and Geometry. “It made sense for us to be aligned closer to what all of our peer schools are doing […] because it just makes it easier for students coming in or transitioning back out,” McElligott said.

Because of the swap, sophomores and freshmen are in the same Geometry classes this year. One concern has been that the sophomores will have an advantage over freshmen because they have had more experience in algebra. “When we wrote the course this summer, we made sure that Geometry is taught with the understanding that students have had only Algebra I. So sophomores may feel like they have an advantage this year, but when you go to Precalculus next year, it will have been a year since you have had Algebra II,” McElligott said. The freshman, on the other hand, will not have a year gap between Precalculus and Algebra II, so everybody receives some benefits and some disadvantages.

Somes described it as a “win-win” situation. “Sophomores can connect their algebra to Geometry, and freshmen will have Algebra II fresh on their minds going into Precalc,” he said.

Sophomore Anneli Wilson, a current Geometry student, agrees with the swap. “I feel like we should have just started with it, but I am glad they’re changing it,” they said. Nevertheless, Wilson also has a small issue with being grouped with freshmen. “I do wish the classes were still separated by grade, but it’s not a huge deal,” they said.

Freshman Elliot Gilats, another Geometry student, said, “I think it was definitely an interesting change. But what is nice is since basically all of the freshmen and all of the sophomores are taking Geometry, there are a lot more people that I can work with.”

Thought, time and effort went into making this transition. Three years ago, McElligott gave a presentation to the Academic Council, which included the department chairs, administrators from all divisions, the head and the assistant head of school. “This wasn’t a decision that one math teacher made, or even… the math department… It was a decision made, really, with a whole group of people and leaders from the school,” McElligott said.

Though this transition might have some growing pains, the math department hopes to see their efforts pay off.