The Lynbrook Math Department has developed this guide to help families better understand the difference between levels.

The California Mathematics Placement Act was passed in 2015 and is intended to ensure use of a fair, objective, and transparent mathematics placement protocol that limits the use of subjective criteria in placement decisions. The FUHSD Board of Trustees affirms that such a protocol will help students and families make informed decisions that will result in an appropriate 9th grade mathematics placement.

1. Placement in mathematics courses is determined by a student’s course request and verified by the parent/guardian through the course verification process. FUHSD staff provide guidance to students and parents about the District’s math course offerings during the course selection process, including course information sessions, online, and printed materials.

2. The following measures are used to guide placement in 9th grade math courses:

• District-approved diagnostic assessments;
• Standardized assessment scores from 7th and 8th grade, when available; and
• Course performance, including grades, from 8th grade.

3. For students receiving special education services, final course placement will be determined by the IEP team.

4. Within the first month of the school year, school staff will conduct a review of 9th grade math course enrollment based on 8th grade course enrollment and final grades, diagnostic assessment results, and standardized test results. If a student previously received passing scores in the course and earned proficient ratings on the related assessments, school staff will consult with the student, parent/guardian, and current math teacher to discuss advancing the student to the next course in the sequence.

Parent/Guardian and Pupil Recourse for Challenging Mathematics Placement

The District acknowledges the need to offer clear and timely recourse for each student and their parent/guardian who has questions about their student’s mathematics course placement. The District enumerates the following steps:

• A parent/guardian may request a meeting with school staff to review and discuss the measures used to inform their student’s mathematics course selection.
• A parent/guardian may request that the pupil be placed in a course against the professional recommendation of site staff. This request may occur as part of the course selection process, or may require additional documentation.

Public Reporting of Mathematics Placement Policy and Results

Pursuant to Section 51224.7 of the Education Code, district staff will report annually to the Board on the aggregate pupil placement data, demonstrating that all students are appropriately and fairly placed in mathematics courses as described above.

In order to establish that you do live within the Lynbrook attendance area, families must register with the Fremont Union High School District office. Families coming from a feeder middle school will receive an email with information in winter, prior to entering high school. For additional information, please visit the Residency Verification page of Fremont Union School District website.

Families will receive information regarding course registration after they establish residency within Lynbrook High School attendance area.

The Course Selection Guide is updated in the first few weeks of February. You can check the LHS website at the end of February for the most up-to-date guide. Year to year, there are very few changes.

There are no entrance tests, tuition fees or campus tours available. Our school provides textbooks at no cost to students unless students lose or damage the books.

Once you enroll at Lynbrook and establish residency, we will contact you and your student to help your student choose classes and create a schedule. You cannot meet with our staff - School Counselors, Assistant Principals or other staff-  until you have established residency and you are enrolled at Lynbrook.
 

We are not available in late June or July. We do not respond to e-mail or phone inquiries except to direct you to this list of Frequently Asked Questions.

While we make every effort to keep space available in all classes for students who enroll in LHS during August, it is possible that if you enroll closer to the start of the school year, those spaces will not be available.

Lynbrook High School will not give course credit for any courses taken in the summer between the 8th and 9th grade year.

To be eligible to apply to the UC system, you must complete a Geometry course at an accredited institution. You may be asked by the UCs to send documentation upon application.

• If you are seeking credit for a summer class, you must download and fill out the Request for Credit form. This form, along with all required documentation, must be submitted to the Lynbrook High School main office. We will notify you whether the course is approved or not within two weeks, via e-mail. Approval is not automatic. We strongly suggest that you do not pay summer school registration fees until you hear back from us.
• The outside educational institution must be accredited. It would also be wise to make sure the UC school system approve of the class which you can do this by going to UC Course List website.
• Since we do not recommend summer classes nor particular summer schools or online programs, you will have to do this research on your own.
• FUHSD allows students to earn a maximum of 70 credits per year (up to 85 credits for athletic teams; 5 credits per sport). All classes at LHS are year-long and if successfully completed, have a value of 10 credits per class. If your student takes a summer class to earn FUHSD credit and have the class recorded onto their FUHSD transcript, the class will count in the upcoming school year to their total credits earned.
• If you received approval to take a class for credit, you must submit your student's official transcript before it will be recorded on their FUHSD transcript. Submit your transcript to the LHS Registrar as early in August as possible.
• Many students attend summer programs in math, science etc. These can be dynamic, enriching learning experiences. However, unless they are accredited high school academic programs, with pre-approval from us, via the Request for Credit form, they cannot be used in the place of required classes or to skip levels of classes.

Students cannot begin earning high school credit until they are in high school. To be clear: Any online course (Johns Hopkins CTY, EPGY, etc.) or class from an accredited summer high school program (Mitty, St. Francis, etc.) taken any time before you begin 9th grade cannot be counted for high school credit. For courses taken between the summer of your 8th and 9th grade year, see above question “Can I take a summer class?”

Lynbrook is pleased to offer French, Japanese, and Spanish Levels 1-5. Level IV of all languages is considered Honors, and Level V is Advanced Placement. 

FUHSD offers a diagnostic test to students who select Chinese level 2-5 if they requested the class as one of their top six course selections. Priority for scheduling AP Chinese is given to current students who have completed Chinese level 4; therefore, space is limited. We do not offer a diagnostic to students who select Chinese level 2-5 as a 7th-course request. 

One year of successful completion of a language in middle school has prepared a student for Level I in high school. Two years of successful completion of one of the above languages taken in middle school has prepared a student to take Level II of the language in high school.

We do not have challenge/placement tests for skipping or placing out of language levels.

While most colleges require at least two levels of the same world language, with some colleges preferring three, a world language is not a high school graduation requirement. Highly selective colleges prefer students advance to the highest levels possible in a world language.

Information regarding Chinese Placement Exam

ALL students, who have taken Chinese for two years in middle school and/or listen to or speak Chinese at home, must take the Chinese Placement Exam. It is simply a diagnostic exam in order to place students into the proper level of Chinese.

PE for 9th grade is a state requirement and students cannot earn PE credit through athletics to satisfy this requirement. No 9th grade student can be exempt from PE. Students in 9th grade are strongly encouraged to go out for an LHS athletic team, and a student can earn five elective credits for each successfully completed season of a LHS athletic team. However, in the 9th grade year no PE credit can be earned by being on a LHS athletic team.

Yes and no. The district policy is that you cannot 'double-up' in anyone subject area in your first six classes. In your first six choices, you cannot choose two Science classes or two World Language classes, etc. However, you can choose a second Science or World Language class as a 7th class choice, which, as stated above, is not guaranteed. Due to space limitation related to limited school funding, we rarely have space available for a student to take two of any subject area in any one year. You are more likely to get a 7th class if you are not choosing two classes in the same subject area. Again, a 7th class is not guaranteed.

All incoming 9^th grade Wind and Percussion players should sign up for CONCERT BAND 7120

All incoming 9^th grade String players should sign up for ORCHESTRA 7240

You do not need to audition for these courses, but it is suggested that you have a minimum of 2 years experience. We do accept beginners in special circumstances - contact Mr. Pakaluk.

If you feel you are more advanced, you can contact Mr. Pakaluk and schedule an audition for one of the upper level courses. He will give you information and audition music.

Are you interested in Marching Band or Colorguard? Marching Band is optional, but highly encouraged, and practices outside of school in the fall semester, like a sport. A student can earn credit for participating in Marching Band. Once in 10^th grade, students can earn their PE credit through marching band.

Are you new to LHS but not an incoming 9th grader? Contact Mr. Pakaluk.

The Guidance Counselors will be happy to meet with you or your student after he/she begins the first day of high school. All questions related to course planning for sophomore year, the college process and more. will happily be answered once your student has arrived at LHS. In the meantime, we are offering this list, though not exhaustive, of Frequently Asked Questions.

The Lynbrook math team has developed this guide to help students better understand the differences between math levels to help with a decision on placement.