Incoming Student Placement
Until the 15/16 school year, we had used the EXPLORE test for high school course placement. Because the EXPLORE test is no longer being offered, we work with our partner schools to incorporate 8th grade Fall MAP test scores in our placement process. While we believe MAP reading and math scores are more reliable measures of students' academic performance, these scores are only the first step in determining accurate placements.
As has long been our practice, our department chairs in math, science, English, social studies and literacy visit each of our partner schools in December to review all placements with 8th grade teachers. The input from these teachers is invaluable, and we make placement adjustments based on the input of the teachers who know incoming students best.
These are the scores used for initial placement. Final placement occurs after student-by-student discussion between Leyden department chairs and 8th grade teachers.
Literacy | 8th grade Fall MAP reading score |
Literacy class required | 200 to 220 |
Literacy requirement not required | 221 to 300 |
English | 8th grade Fall MAP reading score |
English I or English I co.Lab | 229 and below |
English I Honors or English I co.Lab Honors | 230 and above |
Math | 8th grade Fall MAP math score |
Algebra Block | 200 to 215 |
Algebra I | 216 to 229 |
Algebra I Honors | 230 to 300 |
Science* | Dependent on Literacy and Math Placement |
Science class deferred to Sophomore year | Placement in Algebra Block |
Phy Sci | Placement in Algebra I or higher, plus literacy placement |
Biology | Placement in Algebra I and no literacy placement |
Biology Honors | Placement in Algebra I Honors and no literacy placement |
Social Studies** |
Dependent on Literacy Placement/MAP Reading Score |
College Prep | 229 and below |
Honors | 230 to 300 |
* Students placed in Algebra I block (2 period Algebra class) are not typically placed in a science class until sophomore year.