Middle School Advanced Academics

Procedures for Honors Courses

Honors Courses – Standards and Expectations

An honors student is someone who shows an exceptional level of performance in math, reading, science, and/or social studies. Honors classes have a more rigorous and in-depth content focus than on-level classes. These classes are designed to challenge students beyond grade-level academic classes and prepare them for success in future advanced coursework. Students are encouraged to be self-motivated learners in order to be successful in advanced academic honors courses.

• Honors Math (6-8):  Honors Mathematics provides an accelerated curriculum for students who are mathematically confident and competent.  Students are encouraged to learn to use numeracy confidently, understand mathematical concepts, and apply their understanding to problem-solving situations. This program provides students with the opportunity to critically and creatively explore and solve in-depth mathematical algorithmic problems. Eighth-grade students enrolled in Honors Mathematics will take Algebra I and receive high school credit for course mastery. Students will take the Algebra I end-of-course exam which is one of the five required state assessments for graduation. Students who take Algebra I in the 8th grade are expected to continue on an accelerated math track and take a math course all 4 years of high school.

• Honors ELA (6-8):  Honors ELA offers a fast-paced, accelerated curriculum for students who are confident and competent in reading and writing. Students read and analyze classical literature both in class and independently. Writing consists of responding to a variety of prompts as well as responding to literature in an advanced, grammatically accurate form. The honors curriculum is designed to prepare students for high school honors English, AP English and Dual Credit. A strong work ethic, advanced vocabulary, and advanced reading levels are necessary to be successful.

• Honors Science (7-8):  Seventh grade Honors Science is built around a fast-paced curriculum that will cover both seventh and eighth grade TEKS. Concepts will be emphasized in themes covering topics on environmental interactions, systems and structures, energy, and changes over time. Eighth grade honors students will take Integrated Physics and Chemistry (IPC). IPC enables students to gain a high school science credit for course mastery. This class is a laboratory-based course in which students explore fundamental chemistry and physics principles. Students enrolled in this course examine, through the process of scientific inquiry, the structure and properties of matter, chemical reactions, forces, motion, and the interactions between energy and matter.  It is highly recommended that students take seventh grade Honors Science prior to taking IPC in order to be best prepared for the grade 8 STAAR science test.

• Honors Social Studies (7-8):  Eighth grade Honors Social Studies will focus on the beginning of Colonial America through the Reconstruction Era. Students will be introduced to the social, cultural, political and economic events and philosophies which shaped early America. Students will examine the emergence and growth of the early English colonies in North America and trace the development of representative government to the basic elements of the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, as it relates to the function of our government today. The student’s journey will continue with an exploration into the 19th century challenges of leadership, expansion, conflict and resolution in the emerging nation that contributed to the development of our American identity. Additionally, students will study the Humanities (American art, music, literature and architecture) to build a greater depth of understanding regarding the creation of the characteristics, attitudes, and habits of the American culture. This honors class will also include extra independent readings, primary source investigation and projects.

Gifted and Talented Students

For students to maintain GT status, they must enroll in an honors course.

Removal from advanced courses during the school year

1. At the end of the first three weeks grading period, a student may, upon his/her request and parent approval, be placed in an appropriate on-level class for the remainder of the school year.  
2. If a student’s grade falls below the expectation of 70% at the end of the first grading period, the student is placed on probation.  If the student shows minimal to no improvement by the end of the second grading period, a teacher or parent may initiate removal from the course.
3. If a student is not successful during the subsequent six weeks, or for the first semester, a drop may be initiated by the parent, teacher, or counselor but must have administrator approval before being processed.  There will not be any drops from advanced courses after the STAAR exam for that course has been administered.
4. If a student is approved to drop the advanced course, they will be placed in the appropriate grade level course.  The numerical grade that the student had in the advanced course will carry over into their grade level course.