Posted by Mama, a member of the Palo Alto High School community, on Apr 9, 2012 at 1:14 pm

Not answering your question, but just know that there are 5 lanes of math at Paly which can be viewed on the math flow chart in the catalog: Web Link

The average Palo Alto student takes the middle lane (Algebra 1). The second to the top lane (Alg1A/GeoA) is for those who are a bit better at math and it's the highest lane at other high schools. The highest lane (Geom/Alg 2H) is because we have so many geeks in Palo Alto who are naturally good at math (the way-out-there lane) and it's challenging. Then, we have a few who blow those away and take math class at Stanford in later years. So don't feel stupid if you don't make it into the highest lane. The average Palo Alto student is more intelligent than others in America. Living here has a way of making students feel dumb because we are surrounded by intellectuals who care about academics.

Posted by another parent, a resident of the Downtown North neighborhood, on Apr 9, 2012 at 4:15 pm

new student,

Since the majority of students flow in from the local middle schools, you may not get too many posts from students who have taken that test.

ONe of the the 8th grade Algebra textbooks used last year was Holt California, Algebra I.

If you don't test well, and you feel you want to be challenged, I think you can take summer school to place into the lane of your preference (if it's higher than the one you tested) not sure though! Ask the Math department at the High School.