Common Core
What is the Common Core?
The Common Core are a set of educational standards that were introduced in 2010 which details what K-12 students in the United States should know in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics.
Every year in April and May, New York State administers the Common Core exam to 3-8 grade students to test their understanding of the Common Core standards which they have been taught throughout the year.
How is the Common Core scored?
The ELA and Mathematics Common Core exams are scored on a scale from 1 to 4. 1 being the lowest score possible, and 4 being the highest. Usually, a good score on the Common Core ranges between a 3 and 4. Whereas a bad score ranges between a 1 and 2.
Within these scaled scores are ranges that differentiate a student's performance based on their scaled score. You may have heard someone say before "My son received a high four on his Math Common Core exam" or "My daughter received a low three on her ELA Common Core exam".
Please see the chart below for more details.
| Grade | NYS Level 1 (Low) | NYS Level 1 (High) | NYS Level 2 (Low) | NYS Level 2 (High) | NYS Level 3 (Low) | NYS Level 3 (High) | NYS Level 4 (Low) | NYS Level 4 (High) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 530 - 555 | 556 - 582 | 583 - 591 | 592 - 601 | 602 - 614 | 615 - 628 | 629 - 642 | 643 - 655 |
| 4 | 532 - 556 | 557 - 583 | 584 - 592 | 593 - 602 | 603 - 609 | 610 - 618 | 619 - 635 | 636 - 654 |
| 5 | 509 - 550 | 551 - 593 | 594 - 600 | 601 - 608 | 609 - 614 | 615 - 621 | 622 - 640 | 641 - 661 |
| 6 | 514 - 550 | 551 - 589 | 590 - 594 | 595 - 601 | 602 - 606 | 607 - 613 | 614 - 634 | 635 - 657 |
| 7 | 511 - 54 | 550 - 590 | 591 - 597 | 598 - 606 | 607 - 613 | 614 - 622 | 623 - 637 | 638 - 654 |
| 8 | 507 - 544 | 545 - 583 | 584 - 592 | 592 - 602 | 603 - 608 | 609 - 616 | 617 - 633 | 634 - 651 |
Why is the Common Core important?
The Common Core is taught in schools across the country whose states have adopted the curriculum. Only nine states currently do not teach the Common Core in their schools because they were never adopted or were adopted previously but later repealed.
Although most states have adopted the curriculum, states such as New York have started to change the standards to meet their needs. Recently, the state of New York revised the learnings of ELA and Mathematics in the Common Core curriculum and released a new set of standards called the Next Generation Learning Standards.
So why is the Common Core so important? There are several reasons why the Common Core is important but here are the main ones:
- Common Core was created with the intention of teaching critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills. These are taught to students with the thought that they will use them later on in life when in high school and college
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Common Core state exam scores will determine whether
or not a student will be promoted to the next grade
- With a score of a low 2 or below there is a strong possibility that a student will be left back. However, a student's promotion will ultimately be determined by their teacher and their overall performance in school
- Common Core state exam scores can determine whether or not a student is accepted into a particular program such as a Gifted and Talented (G&T) or Magnet Class or a school. For example, a student with a high ELA and Math score on their 5th grade Common Core exam may get an invitation to take an entrance exam for the Hunter College Campus Schools, one of the most prestigious and selective schools in New York City
What is so special about our Common Core program?
Synergy Prep's Common Core program specializes in preparing 5th and 6th graders for the NYS Common Core ELA and Math exams which are held in March and April. The exam assesses students' understanding of standards that are taught to them throughout the year.
Our job is to make the curriculum easy to understand and digestible for students. We do this by holding 2½-hour sessions for reading and math, providing brief, easy to follow lesson plans and weekly classwork and homework to reinforce our teachings.
Our classes are held in personal, 1 to 6, instructor to student ratios. This is done to ensure that each student gets as much attention as possible and so instructors can cater to each student with different teaching styles.
If you sign up for our Common Core program there are other features which are included. These features include:
- Grading Software
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- With our grading software students receive instant feedback when they submit their assignments. Students will be provided with their own login information so parents can check students' performance throughout the program and see if students are submitting their assignments on time.
- Homework Help Through Discord
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- When students sign up for our program they will also gain special access to our Discord channel where they can submit tickets to receive homework help, whether that be for Synergy Prep assignments or assignments given from school.
- Free Supplementary Sessions
- We care about a student's academic performance both inside and outside of Synergy Prep. To ensure that students get all the help they need, we provide free supplementary classes to boost a student's performance. Just ask the student's tutor or one of our managers for extra help and we will see how we can accomodate you.
- Customized Work Based on Student's Areas of Weakness
- Unlike many of our competitors who take on a "one size fits all" approach for assigning work to students, Synergy Prep can customize our assigned work to suit the needs of a student.
- For example: If a student needs more assistance with learning and practicing how to add and subtract fractions, we can supply them with work that will target that area of weakness. This will ensure that the student will master those standards.
Ready to Learn More About Our Programs?
Speak to one of our program managers and we will hook you up with a package that suits your needs! Please see the packages below for more information:
Two 2.5 hour sessions
75 hours
Friday 5pm - 7:30pm
Saturday 2pm - 4:30pm
New York State 6th Grade Curriculum
ELA & Math CW, HW, Quizzes and Diagnostic Exams
- Two 2.5 hour sessions
150 hours - Friday 5pm - 7:30pm
Saturday 2pm - 4:30pm - New York State 6th Grade Curriculum
ELA & Math CW, HW, Quizzes and Diagnostic Exams
- Two 2.5 hour sessions
200 hours - Friday 5pm - 7:30pm
2pm - 4:30pm - New York State 6th Grade Curriculum
ELA & Math CW, HW, Quizzes and Diagnostic Exams
120 Sessions
- Two 2.5 hour sessions
75 hours - Friday 5pm - 7:30pm
2pm - 4:30pm - New York State 6th Grade Curriculum
ELA & Math CW, HW, Quizzes and Diagnostic Exams