Math
Understanding not just the how, but the why.
Critical thinking, deep understanding, and communication are the cornerstones of our mathematics program. We work hard to help our students feel positive about themselves and their relationship with mathematics, and we strive to develop persistent, confident, and creative problem solvers who see and appreciate both the beauty and the utility in mathematics.
“We celebrate mistakes in our classes as opportunities to learn and grow. The faculty are committed to instilling a growth mindset in our students and sharing the joy of mathematics in each learning exercise.” Douglas Gorham, Math Department Chair
Key Characteristics
- A personalized approach, helping each student experience challenges and success through extra help, the math center, and a wide range of courses to choose from
- An appropriate level of both intellectual challenge and success for every student
- Group work that encourages persistence, communication and collaboration
- The use of appropriate tools and technology
Curricular Highlights
Cutting-edge courses. In addition to the traditional courses leading to calculus, students have the opportunity to experience courses in the use of data and statistics and the mathematics of finance (applying mathematics to fields other than just engineering and science).
Electives. A range of elective courses are offered like Probability and Statistics, Sports Analytics, Social Justice Statistics, and Finance.
The Math Center. The Math Center is staffed throughout the day by math faculty. Help is available to all students, regardless of grade or course level, in addition to the extra help already provided by their teachers.
"With help from the Penn Charter Math Center and supportive teachers, I was able to gain confidence in math and become an overall stronger student. This specific curriculum has helped me think outside of the box in mathematics and has pushed me to think deeply about each part of the material." David Garnick, Class of 2019
Graduation Requirements
The minimum requirements in mathematics are as follows: Students must satisfactorily complete Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II and Precalculus or Functions and Trigonometry.
Beginning in the 9th grade, students must take at least seven semesters of mathematics, including a full year of Precalculus or Functions and Trigonometry. It is expected that these seven semesters will be taken consecutively.
The Penn Charter Mathematics Department attempts to provide each and every student with an appropriate level of both intellectual challenge and success. As student needs evolve, the department strives to meet these needs by adding new courses and experiences. In response to an increasing number of accelerated students, for example, we have recently added courses beyond AP Calculus, such as Multivariable Calculus and Linear Algebra, to our curriculum.