Trends in Emphasis

1. Approximately two-thirds of the schools in this study reported an increased emphasis on science over the past 3 years.

2. Both size and type of school appeared to be factors related to the trend of emphasis.

3. There is some evidence that the increased emphasis on science over the past few years has been greater in certain Eastern States than in States of other parts of the Nation.

Offerings

and

Enrollments

in

Mathematics

Offerings

In this study, 3,881 (95.6 percent) of the schools with the 9th grade had pupils enrolled in elementary algebra. Generally, the schools with no pupils enrolled in this subject had very small school enrollments. About 60 percent with the 9th grade had pupils enrolled in general mathematics. Thus, most 9th-grade pupils had an opportunity to take a course in 9th-grade mathematics. (See figure 10.)

Plane geometry was given in 84.3 percent of the schools with 10thgrade pupils. Since plane geometry and intermediate algebra may be given in alternate years in very small schools, it is evident that more than 84.3 percent of the schools provided the opportunity for pupils to take plane geometry, usually a 10th-grade course.

For many years trigonometry and solid geometry have been offered in alternate semesters. This trigonometry-solid geometry combination is losing ground in favor of a trigonometry-advanced algebra combination. Intermediate or advanced algebra, usually an 11thgrade course, was offered in 73 percent of the schools. Solid geometry

4.4%

All other schools
with 9th grade

Schools with 9th grade
having pupils enrolled

in algebra
95.6%

Figure 10.-Percent of Public High Schools With 9th Grade Having Pupils Enrolled in

Algebra: Fall 1958.

may be included in plane geometry and frequently a separate course in solid geometry is not offered. In this study, 41.8 percent of the schools with 12th-grade pupils (the grade where trigonometry is usually offered) gave trigonometry. Only 13.7 percent of the schools had pupils enrolled in solid geometry. College mathematics for advanced standing was offered in 3.8 percent of the schools.

The attempt to provide non-college-bound 11th- or 12th-grade pupils with a course in mathematics is reflected in the number of schools that offered advanced general mathematics. Of the schools in this study 16.2 percent offered such a course.

The percentages of schools offering the various mathematics courses, distributed according to the grades in school, are given in table 30. Of the regular 4-year high school and the 6-year juniorTable 30.-Number and Percent 1 of Public High Schools Offering Certain Mathematics Courses, by Grades in School: Fall 1958

1 In computing the percentage only those schools are included that have pupils in the grade where the course is usually offered. For example, if a school did not have pupils in the 10th grade that school was not included in the data on plane geometry regardless of whether or not it offered plane geometry.

2 Includes regular 4-year high schools and 6-year junior-senior high schools.

Junior high school.

• Senior high school.

senior high school (grades 9-12 and grades 7-12), 15.2 percent gave a course in advanced general mathematics; and of the senior high. schools, 35.7 percent. The senior high school category (grades 10-12) is composed of large schools, while the regular 4-year or the 6-year high school category (grades 9-12 or grades 7-12) contains many small schools whose offerings are limited. Of the senior high schools, 95.7 offered plane geometry, while only 84.4 percent of the 4-year or 6-year high school did so. In the category "other grades" only 45.5 percent offered plane geometry; however, many schools in