Standard vs Success Courses

Absolutely! Our standard courses are full, high school-level programs intended to provide students with all the skills needed to progress to the next level of study, whether it is geometry, algebra 2, trigonometry, pre-calculus, statistics, consumer math, or college algebra. Not only are specific math concepts taught throughout each course, but students are also equipped with learning techniques and habits to help them thrive in future math classes. Our courses do more than simply help students complete their graduation requirements. They also give students the skills and confidence needed for their next level of study in college, trade school, or a professional career.

You bet! While the ACT is a little more math-heavy than the SAT, both tests cover concepts from math up to and including algebra 2 (but not beyond). Students who take our courses up through Algebra 2 will have learned all the content needed for these tests. That being said, we highly recommend that students do some extra prep to get used to the language and style of questions found on these exams. 

P.S. Mr. Denison took the ACT along with his 11th grader to get a "boots-on-the-ground" perspective on test prep and content (Yep... he was the oldest person in the room by a long shot). You can check out his thoughts on SAT/ACT prep here.

Nope! Each course is a full high school level math class that counts as a complete credit. The content and topics of these courses are not modified or simplified, but are simply presented in a straight-forward, brain-friendly way. While our courses are not advanced or honors level, they provide students with a strong foundation in math and set them up for success in future coursework and college entrance exams.

Our standard courses are an excellent fit for students who have struggled with math in the past, particularly if their math woes stem from external factors such as poor curriculum, confusing teachers, or gaps in instruction. Because these challenges are often situational rather than ability-based, students usually thrive once they are given clear explanations and a logical structure.

To address this, our courses thoroughly review and reteach concepts, equipping students with a strong understanding before moving forward. Additionally, each course includes multiple layers of support, such as...

• Detailed daily lesson videos that teach new content in an approachable way

• A robust solutions manual that shows every answer worked out step-by-step

• Solutions videos where every problem is fully worked out and explained by Mr. Denison

• Test solutions videos to help students review and learn from their errors

These intentionally-designed features give students the tools and support they need to rebuild their math confidence and experience success in a challenging subject.

Our courses can be a great fit for a naturally-gifted or advanced math student, particularly if they want a straight-forward, non-nonsense curriculum option. 

If you have a heavily STEM-focused student who wants an additional challenge, however, we recommend using an honors level curriculum rather than Denison Algebra. While our courses are standard level programs that cover every essential high school math topic, your advanced student might enjoy a more rigorous or accelerated level of study that matches their interests and math giftings.

Our Course Placement Guide has a detailed explanation of the prerequisites for each course. That being said, here's a quick cheat sheet:

Pre-Algebra: 7th or 8th grade. Students need to be able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide single-digit numbers. That’s it!

Algebra 1: 8th or 9th grade. Experience with pre-algebra is recommended but not required. 

Geometry: 9th grade or above. Students should complete an algebra 1 course before beginning Denison Geometry. 

Algebra 2: 10th grade or above. Students should complete an algebra 1 course before beginning Denison Algebra 2. Completion of a geometry course is recommended but not required.

Advanced Algebra & Trigonometry: 11th or 12th grade. Students should complete an algebra 1 and algebra 2 course before beginning Denison Advanced Algebra & Trig. Geometry is recommended but not required.

Success courses can count as either a full or a modified/special ed credit on a high school transcript, depending on what you (the parent/teacher) feel is most appropriate. If a student is working to the best of their ability and putting in the same effort as their peers, we believe a Success course should count as a regular credit. These courses cover the same essential topics as a typical math class, just with simplified numbers and without the extra “fluff” that can make math overwhelming. 

Ultimately, the decision is yours. Just keep in mind that Success courses are designed for students who might otherwise struggle to make progress in high school math at all. If they work diligently and successfully complete the course, they deserve to have that effort recognized with some level of credit on their transcript.

The question of whether Success courses prepare a student for college is a bit nuanced. In one sense, the answer is yes... these courses give students exposure to and success with upper-level math concepts and provides them with a solid foundation on which to build. This is typically in stark contrast to how math played out in the past, and is a win in and of itself.

That being said, students who complete all the Success courses will likely still need additional support to succeed in a standard college math class. They may need supplemental math instruction to bring them up to speed and will likely need to start in a basic, community college setting. Still, through the Success courses, they will have gained valuable experience, built confidence, and developed familiarity with key ideas, which can make a significant difference when encountering these concepts again in college.

In all, it’s important to note that Success courses are not traditional “college prep” courses. They are modified by design. The goal is to help students move forward, making measurable progress, reducing anxiety, building confidence, and introducing abstract math in a clear, approachable way. With this foundation, students are better positioned to continue their education and have a much better chance at success in college-level math than they did before.

Similar to how our Success courses interact with college-prep, the answer is two-fold. On a basic level, students who complete the Success program will still have some math work to do before being fully prepared to take a college entrance exam (particularly if they have a target score). We recommend that every student, regardless of the program they complete, do extra test-specific prep to get used to the language and style of questions found on these exams. Success students, however, will need some additional help to get used to the more advanced questions and math concepts that occasionally pop up.

It is not the purpose or intention of Success courses to prepare students for the ACT/SAT but from an overarching standpoint, we feel that our Success courses can help prepare them in that they equip students with a solid foundation in basic algebra as well as foster confidence in their math abilities. While students may not know the answer to every question on the math portion of a college entrance exam, they will have enough knowledge to tackle some of the simpler questions. More importantly, they will also have the math background to engage with heavier-duty test prep if they choose.

In general, we don't recommend switching students from Success to Standard, especially if they are having positive experiences with the program. The jump can be extremely difficult for students, both in terms of level and pacing, and can quickly become discouraging and counter-productive for them. In the long run, we don't want to see the progress they are making overcome with a resurgence of negative feelings towards math.

Of course, we're not saying that this switch is impossible or that it is never a good idea. If you do choose to move to a standard course, we highly recommend that you consider the following...

• We have seen the most success when students retake the SAME level standard course as they have completed with Success. For instance, if a student has completed Success Algebra 1, start with standard Algebra 1 instead of standard Geometry.
• Keep in mind that, while the jump from Success Algebra 1 to standard Geometry is doable, issues primarily come when your student hits standard Algebra 2. This is because Success Algebra 1 is a modified course and does not include all of the materials students will need for a standard-level Algebra 2 class.
• We are strong believers that students can do anything they set their mind to. Your student can make a successful jump to the standard route, but it is important that they are self-motivated and fully on board with the transition. It will require a lot of dedication and effort on their part, and it requires buy-in from the student, not just the parent.

We don't offer a Success version of Pre-Algebra or Advanced Algebra & Trigonometry. Our hopes for Pre-Algebra is that it is a good gauge as to whether a standard or Success route is better for your student. If your student thrives with the pacing of Pre-Algebra, they are likely a good fit for our standard courses. If, however, the pacing is a bit of challenge, or your student is struggling to totally grasp concepts (especially later in the course), that can be an indictor that Success courses are a better fit.

We do not offer a Success Advanced Algebra & Trigonometry course, simply because the goal of the course is to prepare students for pre-calculus or college algebra. While a Success student may eventually want to take these courses, it is more typical for them to pursue a non-STEM focused trade-school route or to complete a consumer math or applied math course first.

Our Course Placement Guide has a detailed explanation of the prerequisites for each course. That being said, here's a quick cheat sheet:

Pre-Algebra: Recommended for 8th grade. Students need to be able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide single-digit numbers. That’s it!

Success Algebra 1: 9th grade or above. Experience with pre-algebra is recommended but not required. 

Success Geometry: 10th grade or above. Students should complete an algebra 1 credit of some sort before beginning Success Geometry (it's okay if it didn't go well). 

Success Algebra 2: 11th grade or above. Students should complete an algebra 1 course before beginning Success Algebra 2 (it's okay if it didn't go well). Completion of a geometry course is recommended but not required.