Kingston City
School District
Advanced Courses (AP/Collegiate)
Advanced Course Placement Criteria
At Kingston City School District, we believe that all students deserve access to challenging coursework that supports growth, builds confidence, and prepares them for future opportunities. Placement in accelerated and Regents-level courses is based on clear and consistent criteria designed to support student success while keeping pathways open for all learners.
This process is reviewed annually to maintain academic rigor, adapt to student needs, and account for the logistical realities of program availability. The goal is to balance fairness, opportunity, and excellence so that every student has the chance to be appropriately challenged and supported.
Placement decisions are made through a multi-measure review process. No single data point, assessment, or recommendation should determine placement by itself. Instead, the instructional team reviews patterns of performance across academic achievement, readiness, growth, attendance, and teacher input.
These criteria have been developed to:
- Provide fair and transparent expectations for students and families.
- Balance academic achievement, growth, readiness, and engagement.
- Encourage responsibility, consistency, and strong learning habits.
- Ensure students are placed in courses where they are prepared to succeed.
- Create a consistent recommendation process across schools and grade levels.
Guiding Principles for Placement
- Placement is based on multiple measures and documented evidence of readiness.
- Teacher recommendation is an important part of the process, but it is to be grounded in evidence of academic readiness, mathematical reasoning, independence, work habits, and ability to manage the pace of the course.
- Students who do not meet the listed criteria may still be considered through a review process when there is strong evidence of readiness and commitment identified by the instructional team.
- Final placement is reviewed by the instructional team and is subject to program capacity, scheduling, and district needs.
- Regents-level courses are high school credit-bearing courses. Grades earned become part of the student's permanent high school transcript.
High School Transcript and Course Commitment
Regents-level courses taken in middle school are official high school credit-bearing courses. This means that the grade a student earns in the course becomes part of the student's permanent high school transcript.
Families should understand that these courses carry a greater level of academic responsibility than traditional middle school courses. The pace is faster, the workload is more demanding, and students are expected to demonstrate independence, consistent effort, strong attendance, and readiness for high school-level expectations.
Because the final course grade remains on the student's high school record, placement should be viewed as both an opportunity and a commitment. Students who are recommended for these courses should be prepared to engage fully, seek support when needed, and maintain the level of performance required for long-term academic success.
The goal of the placement process is not to limit opportunity, but to ensure that students are placed in courses where they are ready to succeed with confidence.
Placement Criteria
Grade 7 Accelerated Math Placement from Grade 6
Students should meet 5 of the 6 criteria below:
| Criteria Area | Placement Indicator |
|---|---|
| Grade 6 Math course average | 85% or higher |
| i-Ready Math scaled score | 490 or higher |
| Algebra and Algebraic Thinking domain performance | At or above mid-grade level |
| Attendance | 10 or fewer unexcused absences from school |
| Common Assessment average | 85% or higher |
| Teacher recommendation | Evidence of readiness, independence, mathematical reasoning, and ability to manage accelerated pacing |
Regents Algebra Placement from Math 7
Students should meet 6 of the 7 criteria below:
| Criteria Area | Placement Indicator |
|---|---|
| Common Assessment average | 85% or higher |
| Grade 7 Math course average | 85% or higher |
| i-Ready Math scaled score | 490 or higher |
| Algebra and Algebraic Thinking domain performance | At or above mid-grade level |
| NYS Grade 6 Math Assessment | Level 3 or 4 |
| Attendance | 10 or fewer unexcused absences from school |
| Teacher recommendation | Evidence of readiness for the pace, independence, abstract reasoning, and workload of Regents Algebra |
Regents Algebra Placement from Math 7A
- Students earning a passing score in Math 7A are recommended for Regents Algebra.
- Final placement should still be reviewed by the instructional team to confirm readiness, scheduling, and appropriate support.
- When concerns exist, the team should review course performance, assessment data, attendance, and teacher input before finalizing placement.
Regents Earth and Space Science Placement
Students should meet 3 of the 4 criteria below:
| Criteria Area | Placement Indicator |
|---|---|
| i-Ready Math scaled score | 490 or higher |
| Grade 7 Science Common Assessment average | 85% or higher |
| Grade 7 Science course average | 85% or higher |
| Attendance | 10 or fewer unexcused absences from school |
| Teacher recommendation | Evidence of readiness, independence, scientific reasoning, and ability to manage accelerated pacing |
Regents Biology Placement
Students should meet 3 of the 4 criteria below:
| Criteria Area | Placement Indicator |
|---|---|
| i-Ready Reading scaled score | 615 or higher |
| Grade 7 Science Common Assessment average | 85% or higher |
| Grade 7 Science course average | 85% or higher |
| Attendance | 10 or fewer unexcused absences from school |
| Teacher recommendation | Evidence of readiness, independence, scientific reasoning, and ability to manage accelerated pacing |
Recommendation and Review Process
- Eligibility review begins at the end of Quarter 3 to support course placement planning for the following school year.
- Initial recommendations are based on available data and are reviewed again using end-of-year information when needed.
- Instructional teams review student data, teacher input, and program capacity before final placement decisions are communicated.
- Students who narrowly miss the criteria may be brought forward for additional review when there is strong evidence of readiness.
- Students and families should not be given final placement decisions until the review process is complete.
Notes for Students & Families
- Excused absences, including medical or religious absences, are not counted against eligibility.
- Placement decisions are based on end-of-year data and reviewed by the instructional team.
- Students who do not meet all criteria may still be considered through a review process if there is strong evidence of readiness and commitment.
- Regents-level courses are official high school classes. Grades earned will become part of the student's permanent high school transcript and will follow the student throughout their academic career.
- The review of eligibility for honors and Regent's placement begins at the end of Quarter 3 to determine course placement for the following school year.