Preparatory Math & English Courses

Marian offers unique preparatory courses for incoming freshmen to help them build strong academic foundations before high school begins. These programs are designed to ease the transition and set students up for long-term success in Marian’s rigorous college-preparatory curriculum.

Marian Offers a Range of Courses to Current Students

Explore Curriculum

Which Prep Courses May Be Right For You?

Online Algebra Supplement

8^th graders who wish to attempt to accelerate their eventual 9^th grade math placement may participate in Marian’s Online Algebra Supplement during the second semester of their 8^th grade year.

For students wishing to accelerate 9th grade placement

Intended for students with prior algebra experience, wishing to accelerate freshman math placement; the course culminates with Marian’s geometry placement exam – with success, 9^th grade placement 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.

Program Highlights

Registration is released each November.

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%

Graph Linear Equations
Graph Linear Inequalities
Identify Domain and Range
Identify Function or Non-Function
Identify Intercepts and Slope from an Equation or a Graph
Identify Type of Equation/Relation
Identify and Use Parallel and Perpendicular Slopes
Write a Linear Equation in Slope Intercept Form and Standard Form
Writing Equations from Real-World Situations
Write Equations and Graph Horizontal and Vertical lines

Factoring & Solving Quadratic Equations - 20%

Exponential & Radical Properties - 10%

Summer Math & English 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
English Foundations Course

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’ 8^th 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’ 8^th grade reading and writing skills so that students are best equipped for their four-year English program ahead.

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