Math Tutoring in Hillsborough
One-on-one math tutoring for Hillsborough students, built around Crocker's pathways and the exam dates and rules for Aragon and Burlingame, at your kitchen table or online.
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Crocker's math pathways
Crocker offers one math course in sixth grade, Common Core 6. Seventh grade splits into Common Core 7 or Compressed Common Core 7/8, and eighth grade into Common Core 8 or Algebra 1. Compressed 7/8 puts the seventh- and eighth-grade curricula into one year-long course at a faster pace. Students who complete it go into Algebra 1 in eighth grade.
The compressed path is earned. According to the school's placement page, a student has to meet all of these after sixth grade: at least 36 out of 40 on the MDTP Grade 7 Readiness test, an average of 90% on four open-ended MARS tasks that are each finished in 30 minutes, and 90% or better in every trimester of Common Core 6. A teacher recommendation can support a case but does not replace the criteria. The district's separate placement protocol document lists a fourth measure, a CAASPP score of 3 or 4, so ask the school which version applies this year.
After seventh grade, a student who is not already on the compressed path can reach Algebra 1 in eighth grade through a Summer Bridge. The school's bridge page asks for at least 36 out of 40 on the MDTP Grade 8 Readiness test, with the critical levels met in decimals, fractions and integers, at least 7 out of 8 on each of two MARS tasks, and 90% or better in every trimester of Common Core 7.
The MDTP is a diagnostic from the California State University and the University of California. MARS tasks are performance tasks that look for procedural skill, conceptual understanding and mathematical thinking, so they reward showing the reasoning, not only the answer. We could not find a free practice test for the Grade 7 or Grade 8 readiness tests.
Sources (checked October 2026): Crocker 6th to 7th grade placement, Crocker 7th to 8th grade bridge option, Compressed Common Core 7/8, MDTP.
The fall check
Crocker has a written process for students who are misplaced in the compressed or Algebra 1 courses. A student below 80% at the end of the first or second trimester may move to the grade-level path, and a seventh grader under 80% at the end of the third trimester may move to Common Core 8 the next year. In September, the teacher reviews data with an administrator and the math team, and a parent and student check-in happens before or during fall conferences. A move in mid-to-late October is possible if performance does not improve. Homework non-completion, behavior or accommodation needs alone are not grounds for a move.
Algebra 1 at Crocker is a high-school-level course. The school reports students who complete it successfully to the state and to the high school district, and a student who does not complete it successfully has to repeat it in high school. Families who choose Algebra before seventh grade or Geometry before eighth grade on their own are warned that the course may have to be retaken, because local public high schools do not accept those grades toward UC admission requirements.
Sources (checked October 2026): Crocker misplacement process, Crocker Algebra 1, HCSD Math Placement Protocol.
From Crocker to high school
Hillsborough students go on to high schools in the San Mateo Union High School District, which uses an address-based School Locator to find your school. Aragon sits on the Hillsborough border, and its accreditation report says it primarily serves students from feeder schools in Hillsborough, Foster City and San Mateo.
The district's default for incoming ninth graders is Algebra 1 at Aragon, Burlingame, Mills and San Mateo, Geometry at Hillsdale and Math 1 at Capuchino. Anything else needs a middle school transcript showing the prerequisites, so a Crocker Algebra 1 completer should bring one.
Priority enrollment for fall 2027 runs from December 1, 2026 to February 5, 2027, and the transfer lottery is in February. Aragon's exam form opens on February 8, after priority enrollment has closed. California's UC requirement is three years of college-prep math, with four recommended.
Sources (checked October 2026): SMUHSD School Locator, Aragon accreditation report, SMUHSD Math Placement Criteria, SMUHSD enrollment 2027-28, UC subject requirements.
The Aragon and Burlingame compressed math exams
For students entering ninth grade in fall 2027, Aragon's Math Acceleration Exam is on Saturday, March 13, 2027 at 9:00 a.m. Registration opens February 8 and closes March 5 at 4:00 p.m. It is for the compressed sequence, which covers three years of math in two: Geometry, Algebra 2 and Pre-Calculus. Burlingame's placement exam for Compressed Math 1 is on Wednesday, March 10, 2027 from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. at Burlingame High, and students can instead test at Aragon on March 13. Burlingame allows no walk-ins and offers no make-up exam.
Passing is not enough. Aragon's FAQ also asks for a strong A in Algebra 1 or Geometry by the end of eighth-grade spring and a teacher recommendation, and says enrollment is not guaranteed and a student may be waitlisted. Aragon and Burlingame both say the A should be earned with no tutor and no test retakes in eighth-grade Algebra. We tell families this up front: we do not promise a placement, and we would not want a student placed in a course they are not ready for.
A student who joins compressed math must decide within the first three weeks whether to stay. At Aragon, a change after six weeks is a Drop F on the transcript, and a seat in Geometry or Algebra 2 is not guaranteed. Burlingame asks for a petition, with a W before the twelve-week mark and a DF after it.
Both schools say they do not recommend summer courses for acceleration. Aragon's placement is based on the eighth-grade course, and a concurrent outside course can raise it by at most one level. Out-of-district coursework counts for placement only and does not appear on the transcript.
Sources (checked October 2026): Aragon math acceleration exams, Aragon math FAQ, Burlingame math FAQ, Burlingame placement exam sheet.
Crystal Springs Uplands and Nueva
Crystal Springs Uplands has its Upper School on Uplands Drive in Hillsborough and its Middle School in Belmont. Its middle school offers Math 7 and Math 7A, then Math I or Math IA, and Math 7A requires a teacher recommendation. New upper school students take a placement test, and the school gives no credit for summer or online work. Honors Calculus I and II require an A- or better in Pre-Calculus.
Nueva's Hillsborough campus is the Lower and Middle School. The Upper School is in San Mateo. Nueva places students in math by stage, not age, and its upper school core is an integrated Math 1, 2, 3 sequence followed by electives such as Calculus, Multivariable Calculus and Linear Algebra.
Sources (checked October 2026): Crystal Springs Uplands Middle School academics, Crystal Springs Uplands Upper School academics, Nueva curriculum, Nueva campuses.
How we work with Hillsborough students
We start from your student's own course, teacher and what is due this week, and we plan around the dates above. We work on the math itself, including the written reasoning the MARS tasks ask for. We never promise a placement or a score. Those decisions belong to the school, and we will tell you honestly what we see.
See in-home tutoring in Hillsborough for how we work in town, math tutoring across the Peninsula, and executive functioning coaching in Hillsborough if planning and follow-through are the real problem.
What happens when you reach out
- Tell us what is going on. A free 30-minute conversation about your student, their school and what you want to change. Text, call or book a time.
- We choose the right person, usually within a week. Our founder proposes the educator, a written plan and a weekly time, and you meet them before the first session. If a match will take longer, we say so on the call.
- You see it working. 60 minutes a week at your kitchen table or online, and a written update after every session, so you are never guessing. On a Membership or Semester, a monthly progress check-in with our founder.
Membership from $275 a week in your home, $215 online, and less on a Semester. See pricing.
If your student isn't happy after the first session, you don't pay for it.
Questions from Hillsborough families
What exactly is the bar for Crocker's compressed path?
The school publishes the numbers on its placement page: at least 36 out of 40 on the MDTP Grade 7 Readiness test, an average of 90% on four MARS tasks and 90% or better each trimester in Common Core 6. A teacher recommendation supports a case but does not replace the criteria. The district's separate protocol document also lists CAASPP, so ask the school which version applies.
Is it normal for a student to be moved in the fall?
Crocker has a written process for it. A student below 80% at the end of a trimester may move to the grade-level path, and a move in mid-to-late October is possible if performance does not improve.
Aragon's FAQ says no tutor. What should we do about the March exam?
Aragon and Burlingame both ask that the strong A in eighth-grade Algebra be earned with no tutor and no test retakes. We do not promise a placement, and we would not want a student placed in a course they are not ready for. Ask the school how its criteria apply to your student.
What is the deadline order for ninth grade?
For fall 2027: priority enrollment December 1 to February 5, the Aragon exam form opens February 8 and closes March 5, Burlingame's exam is March 10 and Aragon's is March 13.
Should we use a summer course to skip ahead?
Both Aragon and Burlingame say they do not recommend summer courses for acceleration, and outside coursework counts for placement only. Local public high schools also do not accept some early Algebra or Geometry grades toward UC requirements, so check with the school first.
Do you come to our home in Hillsborough?
Yes. Sessions happen at your kitchen table or your student's desk anywhere in Hillsborough, or online if that suits your family better. Many families mix the two.
What does math tutoring in Hillsborough cost?
A Membership is $275 a week in your home or $215 online, for a weekly 60-minute session. Commit through the end of the term and it is $260 or $200 a week; pay-as-you-go Flex is $300 or $240 a session. Every price and term is on the pricing page.
What families say
From our reviews page.
Aidan has been an excellent math tutor for my son. He is patient, knowledgeable, and does a great job explaining complex concepts in a way that is easy to understand. He is professional and truly cares about making his students confident in their abilities. I highly recommend Aidan to any parent looking for a high school math tutor.
Let's look at where the math stands
A free 30-minute conversation about your student's course and what comes next. We will tell you honestly if we are the right fit.