Skip to content

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 write and solve equations, then graph them as lines, curves, and steep growth patterns. They learn to find where two lines cross and what that point means in a real situation, like comparing two phone plans. By spring, students can take a word problem about cost, distance, or growth and turn it into an equation they can solve and graph.

  • Linear equations
  • Systems of equations
  • Quadratic functions
  • Exponential growth
  • Graphing
  • Word problems
  • Polynomials
Source: Delaware Delaware Content 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 solving for an unknown and graphing straight lines. They write equations from word problems, like figuring out how long it takes to save up for something at a steady rate.

  2. 2

    Systems of equations

    Students work with two equations at the same time and find the point where both are true. Parents might see them comparing two phone plans or two pricing options to see when one becomes the better deal.

  3. 3

    Quadratic functions

    Students move from straight lines to curves shaped like a U. They learn to graph these curves, find where they cross zero, and use them to describe paths like a ball thrown in the air.

  4. 4

    Exponential growth and decay

    Students study patterns that double or shrink by half over and over. They use these to model things like money earning interest, a population growing, or a medicine wearing off.

  5. 5

    Polynomials and data analysis

    Students add, subtract, and multiply expressions with variables, then look at sets of data to spot trends. They learn to read scatter plots and decide what a pattern in the numbers actually says.

Mastery Learning Standards
The required skills a student should display by the end of Grade 9.
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 trying even when the first approach doesn't work.

  • Reason Abstractly

    Algebra I

    Students take a real situation (a phone plan, a savings goal) and turn it into an equation, then work the math. When they get an answer, they check whether it actually makes sense in the original situation.

  • Construct Arguments

    Algebra I

    Students build a math argument by explaining why their answer works, then look at a classmate's reasoning and decide whether it holds up. The goal is to justify steps, not just show them.

  • Model with Mathematics

    Algebra I

    Students take a real situation (a road trip, a sale price, a growing population) and write an equation or draw a graph that helps make sense of it. Math becomes a tool for answering questions that actually come up outside of school.

  • Use Tools Strategically

    Algebra I

    Students choose the right tool for the math in front of them: a calculator when precision matters, estimation when a close answer is enough, or pencil and paper to work through the steps. Picking the right tool is part of solving the problem.

  • Attend to Precision

    Algebra I

    Students use exact math vocabulary and correct units when solving problems and explaining their thinking. A measurement stays in meters, a rate stays in miles per hour, and the words students choose mean exactly what they say.

  • Algebra I

    Students learn to spot patterns and hidden structure in math problems, like recognizing that an expression can be rewritten in a simpler form. That skill lets them solve new problems faster by seeing what they already know.

  • Express Regularity

    Algebra I

    Students notice when the same steps keep appearing in a problem and use that pattern to find a shortcut or write a general rule. It's the habit of asking, "Why does this keep working?"

  • Make Sense of Problems

    Geometry

    Students read a math problem carefully, figure out what it's actually asking, and keep working even when the path isn't obvious. They check whether their answer makes sense before moving on.

  • Reason Abstractly

    Geometry

    Students take a real problem (a triangle, a distance, an angle) and translate it into numbers or equations to solve it, then bring the answer back to explain what it means in the original situation.

  • Construct Arguments

    Geometry

    Students back up math claims with logical steps and explain why a proof holds. They also listen to a classmate's reasoning and point out where it works or where it breaks down.

  • Model with Mathematics

    Geometry

    Students use math to make sense of real situations, like figuring out how much paint covers a wall or whether a design will fit a space. The math connects to something outside the classroom.

  • 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 skill is knowing which one to reach for.

  • Attend to Precision

    Geometry

    Students use exact math vocabulary and label answers with the right units, such as inches or square feet. A precise answer isn't just correct; it's clear enough that someone else can follow the work.

  • Geometry

    Students spot patterns and hidden structure in shapes, equations, and diagrams, then use what they notice to solve problems faster or explain why something works.

  • Express Regularity

    Geometry

    When a solving method keeps working the same way, students stop and ask why. They turn that pattern into a rule or shortcut they can use again.

Algebra I
  • Algebra I

    Students write and solve equations for straight-line relationships, then plot them on a graph. They use those equations to answer real questions, like figuring out total cost over time or when two quantities are equal.

  • Algebra I

    Students write pairs of equations or inequalities and find the values that satisfy both at once. This skill shows up in budgeting, scheduling, and any problem where two conditions have to be true at the same time.

  • Quadratic Functions

    Algebra I

    Students read a situation, write an equation where x is squared, and graph the curve it makes. This shows up in problems about thrown objects, areas, and anything that rises then falls.

  • Exponential Functions

    Algebra I

    Students read graphs and write equations for patterns that grow fast (like money earning interest) or shrink over time (like a car losing value). The focus is on recognizing and describing those patterns clearly.

  • Polynomials and Statistics

    Algebra I

    Students add, subtract, and multiply polynomials, then read data from graphs and tables to draw conclusions about patterns and relationships between variables.

Geometry
  • Geometry

    Rigid transformations are moves that keep a shape exactly the same size and angles: slides, flips, and turns. Students use those moves to show that two triangles or other figures are identical, then write a formal proof explaining why.

  • Similarity, Right Triangles, and Trigonometry

    Geometry

    Students use triangle proportions and the sine, cosine, and tangent ratios to find missing side lengths and angles in right triangles. These tools also apply when two triangles have the same shape but different sizes.

  • Geometry

    Students use rules about angles, arcs, and line segments inside or crossing a circle to solve geometry problems. This includes finding missing angle measures or segment lengths when only partial information is given.

  • Coordinate Geometry

    Geometry

    Students use equations and the coordinate grid to prove things about shapes. They might find the slope of two lines to show they're parallel, or calculate a distance to confirm two sides are equal.

  • Measurement and Modeling

    Geometry

    Students calculate the area of flat shapes, the surface area and volume of 3-D objects, and apply those skills to real problems like estimating materials or comparing containers.

No state assessments at this grade
Students take their next one in Grade 11.
National College Readiness

SAT School Day

Delaware 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 actually cover this year?

    Students work with lines, then systems of two equations, then curves that bend (quadratics), then patterns that double or shrink fast (exponentials). They also add and multiply polynomial expressions and analyze data. By spring, students should be moving between an equation, a graph, and a table of values.

  • How can I help at home if my student is stuck on a word problem?

    Ask what each number and letter stands for in plain English, and what units they have (dollars, minutes, miles). Most stuck moments come from skipping that step. Once the variables have a meaning, the equation usually writes itself.

  • My student says they hate graphs. What can I do?

    Pull up a phone bill, a savings account, or a recipe and sketch it on paper as a line or curve. Ten minutes of graphing something real beats an hour of worksheets. The goal is for students to see a graph as a picture of a story.

  • How should I sequence the year?

    Most teachers start with linear equations and inequalities, move to systems, then shift to quadratics in the winter and exponentials in the spring. Polynomial operations and data analysis usually thread through the year rather than living in their own unit.

  • Which topics usually need the most reteaching?

    Factoring quadratics, solving systems by substitution, and the difference between exponential growth and a steep line. Plan a second pass on each before the unit test, not after. Students also tend to confuse the slope of a line with the rate in an exponential pattern.

  • Does my student need to memorize the quadratic formula?

    Yes, by the end of the year. It is faster than factoring once the numbers get messy, and students will use it again in later math courses. A sticky note on the desk for a week or two is a fine way to learn it.

  • 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 in the original context. They can also recognize when a pattern is linear, quadratic, or exponential from a table or graph.

  • How do I know my student is ready for Geometry or Algebra II?

    They can solve a linear equation without a calculator, graph a line from an equation, factor a simple quadratic, and read a basic scatter plot. If any of those feel shaky in May, a short summer review pays off more than a tutor in September.