Advanced Placement Program

 

What is the Pre-AP Program?

Preparing and motivating middle school and high school students for AP classes and college-level work must begin before they reach eleventh or twelfth grade.  The earlier students acquire analytical thinking and communication skills, the more likely they are to succeed in academically challenging courses such as AP.  Therefore, TISD offers a Pre-AP program beginning with grade 6. Although Pre-AP courses are not prerequisites for AP courses, they are highly recommended.

 

What background is needed for students to succeed in the Pre-AP Program?

Students must be dedicated to complete a more rigorous course of study.  The keys to success are maturity, motivation, self-discipline, and academic preparation. In the Pre-AP program, students are encouraged to ask good questions, to acquire deep understandings, to apply comprehensive analytical techniques, and to construct good written and verbal arguments.

 

TISD encourages students to pursue a course of study in the area of Advanced Placement.  Both students and parents are encouraged to consult with teachers, academic advisors, and principals if they need assistance with any concerns.  Generally, TISD recommends that students and parents consider the following criteria for enrollment in a Pre-AP course:

 

1)         the grade the student received in that subject area during the preceding year (preferably an average of "85" or above); and

 

2)         the score the student received on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills or the TISD Benchmark Assessment for the appropriate subject area during the preceding year (preferably a score of "85" or above).

 

What is the Advanced Placement Program?

The Advanced Placement Program allows high school students the opportunity to enroll in a college-level course and to possibly earn college credit for that course while still in high school.  Although the program is administered by the College Board of New York, secondary schools have the flexibility to establish the curriculum, to select materials and resources, and to determine the instructional methods.  Students may show mastery in these courses by taking the AP exams that are administered in May of each school year.

 

What are the advantages of taking an AP course?

Enrollment in an AP course may benefit students in several ways.  The main advantage is in providing an academic background that will better prepare students for college.  Successful completion of an AP exam can also fulfill one of the requirements of the Texas Distinguished Achievement Program graduation plan.  Of course, another benefit is the award of college credit during the high school years.

 

How is college credit awarded?

High School students must successfully complete the AP exam in order to receive college credit for the course.  Tests are scored with grades from 1-5.  The College Board then reports the scores to colleges with the following recommendations:

 

1--no recommendation

            2--may be qualified

            3--qualified

            4--well-qualified

            5--extremely qualified

 

Each college sets its own policy for the award of AP credit, determining which score is successful and how much college credit will be awarded.  Generally, colleges accept a score of "3" with credit ranging from three to six semester college hours per test.  Students should contact the college directly to find out about the AP policy for that institution.

 

What background is needed to succeed in an AP course?

The College Board offers the following recommendation to ensure success in the AP program:

 

Students should have had practice in analyzing content, drawing comparisons, and reasoning through problems.  They must be able to read perceptively and independently.  Additionally, students will need to be proficient in writing clear, concise essays.  Students who are not skilled in these areas must be even more highly motivated to make up deficiencies at the same time they are taking more rigorous courses.  The earlier students prepare for AP or college courses by taking the most rigorous classes available, the more likely will be their success.  The keys to success are motivation, self-discipline, and academic preparation.

 

What are the costs involved in taking a course?

Since the AP courses are a part of the Texas High curriculum, there is no charge for taking an AP course.  A fee is required, however, if a student chooses to take the exam for a subject.  The Texas legislature has substantially increased funding for the AP program.  As a result, Texas students will pay no more than $52 for each AP exam in the May 2004 testing.  Students with financial need will receive further federal and state fee reductions, resulting in a $7 fee per exam.

 

How are Pre-AP and AP courses weighted?

Because of the advanced level of pre-AP and AP courses, TISD assigns a course weight of 1.70 to Pre-AP classes and a weight of 1.80 to AP classes.

 

What Pre-AP and AP courses are available?

TISD provides courses in both Pre-AP (beginning with grade 6) and AP (beginning with grade 10).  The following courses are currently available:

 

AREA OF STUDY	PRE-AP COURSES	AP COURSES
English	English 7 Pre-AP English 8 Pre-AP English I Pre-AP English II Pre-AP	English III AP (Language and Composition) English IV AP (Literature and Composition)
Fine Arts		Art AP Drawing Portfolio Art AP Two-Dimensional Design Portfolio Art AP Three-Dimensional Design Portfolio
Languages Other Than English	French II Pre-AP French III Pre-AP Spanish II Pre-AP Spanish III Pre-AP	French IV AP French V AP Spanish IV AP Spanish V AP
Math	Pre-Algebra Pre-AP (Grade 7) Algebra I Pre-AP (Grade 8) Algebra II Pre-AP                                    Geometry Pre-AP    Precalculus Pre-AP	Calculus AP Statistics AP
Science	Integrated Physics & Chemistry Pre-AP Biology I Pre-AP                      Chemistry I Pre-AP                   Physics I Pre-AP	Biology II AP Chemistry II AP Physics II AP Environmental Science AP
Social Studies	Social Studies 6 Pre-AP Social Studies 7 Pre-AP Social Studies 8 Pre-AP World Geography Studies Pre-AP World History Studies Pre-AP	U.S. History AP Macroeconomics AP Microeconomics AP U.S. Government AP Comparative Government and Politics AP

                                                                                                                                               

 

Concurrent Enrollment Program

 

What is the Concurrent Enrollment Program?

The Concurrent Enrollment Program allows high school students the opportunity to enroll in college-level courses and to earn high school as well as college credit for the completed coursework.  The program provides a continuum of learning from high school to college for those students who choose to pursue a post-secondary degree or certificate after high school graduation.  This continuum will increase opportunities for students to progress through their programs of study at an accelerated pace. 

 

What are the advantages of taking a concurrent enrollment course?

The Concurrent Enrollment Program allows students to shorten the time required to complete an undergraduate degree.  It also eliminates the duplication of courses taken in high school and in college.  The advanced curriculum provides a background for students that will sharpen their academic preparedness for college.  At the same time, the program expands the options available for college-bound students.  

 

How is credit awarded?

Credit may be given in a content area or as an elective to fulfill graduation requirements and to gain college credit. Credit for successfully completed college courses (a minimum of "C") will be earned in one-half or one-unit increments.  Students taking concurrent enrollment courses on the Texas High campus will receive the actual numerical score as weighted high school credit (1.75 course weight). Students taking concurrent enrollment courses on the college campus will receive an unweighted grade.  The student will receive the actual numerical score, if such a score is awarded by the college instructor, or a numerical grade equivalency as follows:

A - 95          B - 85          C - 75

What are the costs involved in taking a course?

Students pay all costs associated with taking college courses.  These costs may include tuition and fees and will be in accordance with the cost-per-hour charges assessed by the college. 

 

What are the requirements for taking a course?

Students enrolling in a concurrent enrollment course with Texarkana College must meet the following entrance requirements:

 

            1)         Classification as a junior or senior

            2)         88 unweighted grade point average

            3)         A qualifying score on ONE of the following assessments:

 

 

What concurrent enrollment courses are available?

TISD currently offers the following courses in the Concurrent Enrollment Program:

 

THS Course Number	THS Course Name	High School Credit	Campus for Instruction	Participating Institution	College Course Number	College Course Name	College Credit Hours
173050	Algebra II Concurrent Enrollment (1st and 2nd semesters)	1	THS	Texarkana College	MATH 1314	College Algebra	3
133110	Communication Applications	½	TC	Texarkana College	SPCH 1315	Public Speaking	3
144080	English IV Concurrent Enrollment (1st semester)	½	THS	Texarkana College	ENG 1301	Composition and Rhetoric I	3
144080	English IV Concurrent Enrollment (2nd semester)	½	THS	Texarkana College	ENG 1302	Composition and Rhetoric II	3
214100	Government	½	THS	Texarkana College	GOVT 2305	United States Government	3
214150	Psychology	½	TC	Texarkana College	PSYC 2301	Introduction to Psychology	3
214160	Sociology	½	TC	Texarkana College	SOCI 1301	Introduction to Sociology	3
213060	U.S. History Concurrent Enrollment (1st semester)	½	THS	Texarkana College	HIST 1301	History of the United States	3
213060	U.S. History Concurrent Enrollment (2nd semester)	½	THS	Texarkana College	HIST 1302	History of the United States	3
242830	Aircraft Mechanics I (1st semester – for grade 11 and 12 students only)	1	Airport	Southern Arkansas University Tech	AM0301	Aviation Survey	3
242830	Aircraft Mechanics I (2nd semester – for grade 11 and 12 students only)	1	Airport	Southern Arkansas University Tech	AM1003	Fundamentals of Math & Physics	3
243840	Aircraft Mechanics II (1st semester)	1	Airport	Southern Arkansas University Tech	AM2104	Basic Electricity	4
243840	Aircraft Mechanics II (2nd semester)	1	Airport	Southern Arkansas University Tech	AM1105	Aircraft Science