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What does a student learn in ?

This is the year math shifts from working with numbers to working with letters that stand for numbers. Students learn to write and solve equations, graph lines, and use two equations together to answer a question. They also meet curves that bend, like the path of a thrown ball, and patterns that double or shrink fast. By spring, students can take a word problem about money, distance, or growth and turn it into an equation they can solve and graph.

  • Linear equations
  • Graphing lines
  • Systems of equations
  • Quadratic functions
  • Exponential growth
  • Word problems
Source: New Hampshire New Hampshire College and Career Ready Standards
Year at a glance
How the year usually goes. Every school and district set their own curriculum, so treat this as a guide, not official pacing.
  1. 1

    Linear equations and inequalities

    Students start the year writing and solving equations with one unknown, then move to inequalities. They graph lines and use them to describe real situations like phone plans or saving money.

  2. 2

    Systems of equations

    Students work with two equations at once and find the point where both are true. They use this to compare options, like which job pays more after a certain number of hours.

  3. 3

    Quadratic functions

    Students meet curves shaped like a U. They learn to graph them, find where they cross zero, and use them to model things like the path of a thrown ball.

  4. 4

    Exponential growth and decay

    Students study patterns that double or shrink by a percent each step. They use these to model savings accounts, population growth, and how medicine leaves the body.

  5. 5

    Polynomials and data analysis

    Students add, subtract, and multiply polynomial expressions. They finish the year analyzing data sets and scatter plots to spot trends and make predictions.

Mastery Learning Standards
The required skills a student should display by the end of Grade 11.
Standards for Mathematical Practice
  • Make Sense of Problems

    Algebra I

    Students read a math problem carefully, figure out what it's actually asking, and keep working even when the first approach doesn't pan out.

  • Reason Abstractly

    Algebra I

    Students take a word problem apart to find the math, solve it with numbers and symbols, then check that the answer still makes sense in the original situation.

  • Construct Arguments

    Algebra I

    Students back up math claims with clear reasoning, then explain where a classmate's logic holds up or breaks down. The focus is on why an answer is right, not just what the answer is.

  • Model with Mathematics

    Algebra I

    Students take a real situation, like figuring out a phone bill or comparing job salaries, and write an equation or draw a graph to make sense of it. Math becomes a tool for answering questions that actually come up in life.

  • Use Tools Strategically

    Algebra I

    Students choose the right tool for the problem, whether that means a calculator, a quick estimate, or working it out by hand. Knowing which tool fits is part of solving the problem.

  • Attend to Precision

    Algebra I

    Students use exact math terms, label every answer with the right units, and check their calculations carefully. Sloppy wording or a missing label can make a correct answer wrong.

  • Algebra I

    Students learn to spot patterns and hidden structure in math problems, like noticing that an expression can be factored or that two equations share the same form. Recognizing that structure helps them solve problems faster.

  • Express Regularity

    Algebra I

    Students notice when a calculation or step repeats across different problems and use that pattern to build a shortcut or rule. They check whether the rule actually works, not just assume it does.

  • Make Sense of Problems

    Algebra II

    When a problem looks complicated, students slow down, figure out what it's actually asking, and keep working through it even when the path isn't obvious.

  • Reason Abstractly

    Algebra II

    Students take a real situation, strip it down to an equation or expression, solve it, then translate the answer back into what it means in the original problem.

  • Construct Arguments

    Algebra II

    Students explain why a math solution works, using examples or logical steps to back up their thinking. They also listen to a classmate's reasoning and point out what holds up or where the logic breaks down.

  • Model with Mathematics

    Algebra II

    Students take a real situation, like figuring out loan payments or predicting population growth, and write equations or draw graphs to make sense of it. Math becomes a tool for answering questions that actually come up outside school.

  • Use Tools Strategically

    Algebra II

    Students choose the right tool for the problem, whether that means a calculator, a quick estimate, or working it out by hand. Knowing when to use each one is part of the skill.

  • Attend to Precision

    Algebra II

    Students use math terms correctly, label answers with the right units, and check their arithmetic. A solution that drops a unit or misuses a term is incomplete.

  • Algebra II

    Students spot patterns and hidden structure in equations and graphs, then use what they notice to solve problems faster. Recognizing that a complicated expression has a familiar shape is often the shortcut to the answer.

  • Express Regularity

    Algebra II

    Students notice when the same pattern keeps showing up in a calculation and use that pattern as a shortcut or rule. Instead of solving each problem from scratch, they spot the repetition and generalize it.

  • Make Sense of Problems

    Geometry

    Students read a math problem carefully, figure out what it's actually asking, and keep working even when the first approach doesn't pan out. The habit here is persistence, not just getting the right answer.

  • Reason Abstractly

    Geometry

    Students pull a real problem apart into symbols and equations, then translate their answer back into what it means in the original situation.

  • Construct Arguments

    Geometry

    Students build a case for why a geometric idea is true, using facts, diagrams, and logical steps. They also listen to other students' reasoning and explain where it holds up or falls apart.

  • Model with Mathematics

    Geometry

    Students take a real situation, like estimating how much fencing a yard needs or figuring out if a ramp meets a safety standard, and use math to work through it. The answer has to make sense in the real world, not just on paper.

  • Use Tools Strategically

    Geometry

    Students choose the right tool for the problem, whether that means a calculator, a sketch on paper, or a quick estimate. The goal is knowing when each tool helps and when it gets in the way.

  • Attend to Precision

    Geometry

    Students use exact math vocabulary and correct units when solving problems. A length stays in centimeters, an angle stays in degrees, and words like "congruent" or "parallel" mean exactly what they mean.

  • Geometry

    Students notice patterns and underlying structure in math problems rather than treating each one as brand new. Recognizing that structure helps them solve problems more efficiently and see connections across different topics.

  • Express Regularity

    Geometry

    Students notice when the same steps keep showing up in different problems and use that pattern as a shortcut or rule. Instead of solving each problem from scratch, they ask why the pattern works and write it as a general method.

Algebra I
  • Algebra I

    Students write and solve equations for straight-line relationships, then plot those lines on a graph. They use these skills to model real situations, like figuring out total cost based on hours worked.

  • Algebra I

    Students write pairs of equations or inequalities with two unknowns, then find the values that satisfy both at once. This comes up in problems like figuring out when two plans cost the same amount.

  • Quadratic Functions

    Algebra I

    Students use quadratic equations to model real situations, like a ball's path through the air or a business's profit curve, then graph the results as a U-shaped parabola to find the peak, the zeros, or the direction of change.

  • Exponential Functions

    Algebra I

    Students study how numbers multiply (or shrink) at a steady rate over time, like a bank balance earning interest or a population declining. They write the math rule behind that pattern and draw its curve on a graph.

  • Polynomials and Statistics

    Algebra I

    Students add, subtract, and multiply expressions with variables and exponents, then read data in tables and graphs to spot patterns and draw conclusions.

Algebra II
  • Functions and Graphs

    Algebra II

    Students read graphs of advanced functions, including curved and wave-shaped lines, to identify patterns like peaks, valleys, and where the graph crosses zero. This builds the graph-reading skills used in science, economics, and higher math.

  • Polynomial and Rational

    Algebra II

    Adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing polynomials and fractions with variables, then solving equations built from those expressions.

  • Algebra II

    Students use sine and cosine functions to describe things that repeat on a cycle, like a pendulum's swing or a wave's height. They connect the math to real patterns and use identities to simplify or solve the equations that describe them.

  • Statistics and Probability

    Algebra II

    Students use data from a sample group to draw conclusions about a larger population. This is the math behind surveys and polls.

Geometry
  • Geometry

    Students use slides, flips, and rotations to show that two shapes match exactly. If one shape can move onto another without stretching or shrinking, the shapes are congruent.

  • Similarity, Right Triangles, and Trigonometry

    Geometry

    Students use triangle proportions and sine, cosine, and tangent ratios to find missing side lengths and angles in right triangles. This includes scaling triangles up or down and applying basic trig to real-world setups like ramps, shadows, and building heights.

  • Geometry

    Students use the rules that connect angles, arcs, and line segments inside and around circles to solve geometry problems. That includes finding missing angle measures, arc lengths, and segment lengths when only some values are given.

  • Coordinate Geometry

    Geometry

    Students use algebra and coordinates on a grid to prove geometric rules, such as finding the slope of a line or the distance between two points to confirm a shape is what it claims to be.

  • Measurement and Modeling

    Geometry

    Students find the area, surface area, and volume of shapes like cylinders, cones, and prisms. Then they use those calculations to solve real problems, like figuring out how much material a container needs.

Assessments
The state tests students at this grade and subject take.
National College Readiness

SAT School Day

New Hampshire administers the SAT School Day to all 11th-grade students free of charge as part of the state's accountability system.

When given:
spring
Frequency:
annual
Official source
Common Questions
  • What does Algebra I cover this year?

    Students work with three big families of equations: lines, parabolas, and growth or decay curves. They learn to write equations from word problems, solve them, and draw their graphs. They also start working with polynomials and using data to make predictions.

  • How can families help at home when a student is stuck?

    Ask the student to explain what the problem is asking in plain words before touching the math. If they freeze, have them try a smaller version with easier numbers first. Showing work on paper, even messy work, beats redoing it in their head.

  • Does a student need to memorize formulas?

    A few are worth memorizing, like the quadratic formula and slope. Most others students should learn to recognize and use rather than recite. Practicing with the same formulas across different problems is what makes them stick.

  • What order should the year follow?

    Most teachers start with linear equations and inequalities, then move to systems, then quadratics, then exponentials, and finish with polynomial operations and data. Linear work is the backbone, so it pays to spend real time there before moving on.

  • Which topics usually need the most reteaching?

    Solving and graphing systems, factoring quadratics, and the difference between linear and exponential growth tend to trip students up the most. Plan extra practice and varied problem types for those units. Short spiral reviews across the year help more than one big reteach.

  • How can a parent help with word problems?

    Have the student underline what the problem is asking and circle the numbers that matter. Then ask what kind of pattern fits: a steady change, a curve, or doubling. Naming the pattern first makes the equation much easier to write.

  • What does mastery look like by the end of the year?

    Students can take a real situation, write an equation or system that fits it, solve it, and explain what the answer means. They can move between a table, a graph, and an equation for the same relationship. They also catch their own unit and sign errors.

  • How do students know they are ready for the next math course?

    They should be comfortable solving linear and quadratic equations without a calculator nudging every step. They should also recognize when a situation calls for a line versus a curve, and read a graph for slope, intercepts, and key points. Shaky algebra now makes geometry and beyond much harder.

  • What is a good 10-minute practice routine at home?

    Pick two problems from recent class notes and have the student solve one fresh and redo one they got wrong. Ask them to explain each step out loud. Talking through the steps catches more mistakes than silent practice.