The goal of the K-12 mathematics program at McGuffey School District is to develop robust and engaging math curriculum and instruction that helps all students develop into mathematicians. 

To understand where students are in reaching this goal of becoming mathematicians, and to know what they need next in order to be successful, we look to the standards, anchors, and eligible content that serve as a blueprint for the skills and competencies students will be encountering at each grade level. 

Ultimately, these items serve as a roadmap for where a student is on their journey. Grades K-2 include only Pennsylvania Core Standards as part of this roadmap, while grades 3-8, Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2 also include assessment anchors that point to the big picture skills a student will be developing, and eligible content items that point to the specific skills and tasks contained within each anchor. 

All of these standards, anchors, and eligible content items are grouped under four broad mathematical categories of numbers and operations, algebraic concepts, geometry, and data analysis and probability. These domains are further divided into ten different categories that are covered during various courses and grade levels.

For numbers and operations, students begin by working on counting and cardinality (PreK and K), then progress towards numbers and operations and base ten (K-5) and numbers and operations: fractions (3-5). Once students hit the secondary level, they then move into ratios and proportional relationships (6-7), and the number system (6-8). By high school, students have a deep knowledge base that allows for an expansion into number and quantity. 

For algebraic concepts, students build a strong base of operations and algebraic thinking (K-5), that allows them to master expressions and equations (6-8), functions (8), and ultimately Algebra.

For geometry, students focus on one common thread of geometry all the way through their school experience, although the complexity of these geometric concepts scaffolds upwards with each ensuing grade and course. 

For measurement, data, and probability, students first develop an understanding of measurement and data (K-5), before shifting their focus to statistics and probability (6-8). 

To help with identification of the different reporting categories, and to help visually represent the progression through grade levels, a color coding system is frequently utilized in which orange represents numbers and operations, blue represents algebraic concepts, green represents geometry, and purple represents measurement, data, and probability.