Algebra One Enrollment Declined in Torrance Unified -- Why?

Last week, I send the following public records request to Torrance Unified:

Dear Ms. Terrano:

 
I would like to the know the enrollment numbers for the number of students who were enrolled in Algebra I throughout Torrance Unified in from academic year 2010-2011 until academic year 2014-2015.
 
Please let me know if you have any questions or need clarification on this request.
 
Thank you. 

I then added:

I need to add one more element to the FOIA request.

I want to know how many Algebra I students there were enrolled in Torrance during those years, and of those students how many were enrolled in Eighth grade or younger.

I received the following answer yesterday:

Mr. Schaper,

Per your California Public Records Request, please see the below numbers of students enrolled in Algebra I in TUSD for the corresponding years..

Sincerely,

Tim Stowe, Ed. D.

Chief Academic Officer

School Year	Student Count	MS Student Count	HS Student Count
2014-2015	2,003	1,070	933
2013-2014	2,871	1,812	1,059
2012-2013	3,046	1,872	1,174
2011-2012	3,003	1,863	1,140
2010-2011	3,040	1,832	1,208

There is a marked drop in the number of students enrolled in Algebra One in middle school from the 2013-2014 year to last year.

Common Core was introduced to Torrance Unified in 2012.

During the October 26th,, 2015 Torrance School Board meeting, I shared with the board my concerns that Common Core curriculum was going to remove student opportunities to take higher math earlier in their academic careers. If students do not take Algebra I in eighth grade, they will not be on track for Calculcus by their senior year in high school, and will find themselves at a competitive disadvantage for college.

This disconcerting trend needs more exposure. It appears that my and other residents' concerns about Common Core are well-founded.