Preparatory Math & English Courses
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Marian offers unique preparatory courses for incoming freshmen to help them build strong academic foundations before high school begins. From our Online Algebra Supplement to our Foundations Courses, these programs are designed to ease the transition and set students up for long-term success in Marian’s rigorous college-preparatory curriculum.
Online Algebra Supplement
Who should take the Online Algebra Supplement?
8th graders with prior algebra experience who wish to attempt to accelerate their eventual 9th grade math placement may participate in Marian’s Online Algebra Supplement during the second semester of their 8th grade year.
The course culminates with Marian’s Algebra I exit exam. With success, 9th grade placement is accelerated from Algebra I to Geometry. Created and taught by Marian math faculty, the supplement covers the most important math topics in Marian’s Algebra I curriculum. This program is meant to supplement your student’s current 8th grade algebra course, and expand upon the skills and topics she is currently learning. This Online Algebra Supplement provides a risk-free opportunity for a student to test her readiness, preview the rigor and expectations of a high school level class, and position herself for first-semester success as a freshman. Registration is released each November.
While algebra is a universal topic and it is in many ways standardized, this program should not be used to predict a student’s math readiness or success in other high schools.
Program Highlights
- 10-week program, including three on-campus events:
- Orientation/Meet the Teachers (Thursday, January 8 6PM)
- Midterm Exam (Saturday, March 7 10AM)
- Final Exam (Saturday, April 18 10AM)
- Online video and written lessons that go live mid January
- Weekly online Delta Math practice problems
- Study session and office hours with Marian algebra teaching faculty
Registration Deadline: December 31 11:59PM
Freshman Placement Exam Topics
The following is a list of important topics and skills that are included on the placement exam. This list is not comprehensive, but includes the major topics and skills on the exam. Please note that the questions on the placement test are Algebra 1, college prep-level questions.
- Arithmetic (Non-Calculator) - 20%
- Solving Equations/Inequalities - 25%
- Graphing & Writing Linear Equations - 25%
- Factoring & Solving Quadratic Equations - 20%
- Exponential & Radical Properties - 10%
Arithmetic (Non-Calculator) - 20%
Solving Equations/Inequalities - 25%
Graphing & Writing Linear Equations - 25%
Factoring & Solving Quadratic Equations - 20%
Exponential & Radical Properties - 10%
Foundations Courses
All students experience an academic adjustment period during freshman year. This is especially evident in math and English classes, where students who come from dozens of different middle schools and diverse learning backgrounds work to establish common ground and move forward. Each year, counselors and faculty review academic data for the incoming freshmen class to determine optimum Summer Foundations programming. Course information is shared directly with incoming students as appropriate each May.
Math Foundations Course
At Marian, most freshmen take Algebra I. Because every student will later take Algebra 2, it is critical to a student’s long-term academic success that she have a strong and solid foundation before moving on from Algebra I. Summer Math Foundations builds upon incoming students’ 8th grade algebra skills, exploring content in even deeper and wider breadth so that students are best equipped for their freshman math course.
English Foundations Course
Our required freshman English class is the first course in a 4-year program that, year-to-year, builds on the skills taught the previous year(s). Whether addressing vocabulary and grammar growth, writing skills, or analysis and discussion of literature, skills and content build over the years. As such, a solid and fresh foundation in these areas is critical to incoming students’ long-term success. Summer English Foundations builds upon incoming students’ 8th grade reading and writing skills so that students are best equipped for their four-year English program ahead.