A Real Win — Partially

Thank you to the 350 GrowSF supporters who emailed the district. Your voices were heard — and the district listened, at least in part.

After community pressure from parents, educators, and residents, SFUSD reversed course on its worst algebra implementation plan. The district will now let students take Algebra 1 as a standalone course in 8th grade — no more forcing kids to double up on math and give up an elective.

But there's an important catch: only two middle schools — Hoover and Alice Fong Yu — will implement the compressed 6th/7th/8th grade math pathway that prepares students for standalone Algebra in 8th grade. At every other middle school, students will face a difficult choice: take both Math 8 (pre-algebra) and Algebra simultaneously — losing an elective — or skip pre-algebra entirely. Neither is a good option.

Read more in the San Francisco Chronicle.

What Was Wrong

In March 2024, San Francisco voters passed Proposition G with 82% support, urging SFUSD to offer Algebra 1 to students by 8th grade. No opponent argument was even submitted. The message was clear: bring back 8th grade algebra.

But the district's initial implementation plan completely ignored voters' intent. Under the original proposal, 19 of 21 middle schools would have offered Algebra only as an opt-out elective — meaning students had to dual-enroll in 8th grade math and Algebra, giving up art, music, or a world language to fit both classes. At two schools with only 6 periods, students would have had no remaining elective at all. Students with special education services or English language development classes simply wouldn't have had access to Algebra.

How SFUSD Now Compares to Neighboring Districts

SFUSD now offers Algebra as a standalone course — but only at Hoover and Alice Fong Yu is the full compressed pathway in place. At most other schools, students still face the doubling-up problem. Here's how SFUSD compares to neighboring districts:

Why This Matters

Access to Algebra in 8th grade is one of the strongest predictors of whether a student will complete advanced math in high school and enroll in college. Research consistently shows that early algebra enrollment is linked to higher math achievement, greater likelihood of completing AP math courses, and increased college readiness — especially for underserved students.

SFUSD eliminated 8th grade algebra in 2014 as part of a detracking initiative, pushing all students to take Algebra in 9th grade. After a decade of parent advocacy, the board voted 6-1 in February 2024 to reinstate it, and voters backed that decision overwhelmingly with Prop G's 82% mandate. Thanks to 350 community members who spoke up, the district moved in the right direction — but the job isn't done until every middle school has a real pathway to Algebra for every student.

What's Next

The Board of Education will vote on the revised math placement policy on Monday, March 24. But even if the board approves it, only Hoover and Alice Fong Yu will have the compressed math pathway that truly prepares students for standalone Algebra.

We need to keep pushing until every San Francisco middle school implements a curriculum that gives all students a real, elective-preserving path to 8th grade Algebra. Sign up below to stay informed and be ready to act when we call on the district to do better for all schools.