Registration Form for Honors and AP Classes

GATE / Honors/ AP�Information

Ms. Ciara Roth

COHS GATE Coordinator

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What is GATE?

• Gifted and Talented Education

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• Gain analytical and critical thinking skills
• Autonomous learners
• Total academic challenge (“A” is not a given any longer!)
• Exceptional work ethic

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What are the advantages of taking GATE Courses?

1. GPA weighted (A=5 points)
2. Advanced students’ needs met
3. Take challenging courses to prepare for college
4. Earn college credit (by passing AP exams)

Honors VS AP

• Both are under the umbrella of GATE.
• Honors= Advanced courses taken predominantly during 9th and 10th grade.
• AP= Advanced Placement= Advanced courses, taken predominantly during 11th and 12th grade, with the possibility of earning college credit.

Classes offered to Freshmen

• Honors Mathematics (Honors Integrated 2)
• Honors Biology or Honors Earth and Space Science
• Honors English
• AP Human Geography

How do you get into Honors/ AP classes?

Please request the classes using the google form: Link to GATE Form - this is available on our website.

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To be placed into the classes you should meet one of the following criterion:

#1: Be previously GATE identified

• If you are currently identified as GATE at your middle school, you will be identified as GATE at Colony.
• If you are coming from outside of our feeder schools, an email or letter stating this identification from the school will be necessary.
• Taking advanced classes in junior high / middle school does not necessarily mean a student has been GATE identified.

#2: Test scores-

• CAASPP (level 3 and 4)
• I- Ready scores if available

#3: Have an academic GPA of 3.3 or higher

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• you MAY be invited to enroll in honors classes
• If you have less than a 3.3 GPA you may request GATE classes, but an interview or testing may be required.
• GATE testing will be in April or May

#4 Teacher Recommendations

• I will contact teachers from the middle schools if need be to make sure that students are properly placed.

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What is the difference between these courses and “college prep” classes?�

• College Prep courses are designed for all students who want to meet the requirements and be prepared for college after high school.
• Honors courses are designed to meet the learning needs of gifted and high-achieving students
• Both courses cover the same standards, but in different ways (depth, complexity, pace, etc.)

Are Honors classes just more work?

• Honors classes often challenge students in ways they have not been challenged before. Therefore, the work involves more time and energy. The goal with these courses is that they have the appropriate pace, depth, complexity and novelty for gifted and high-achieving students.

How many Honors courses should I take and how do I decide which ones?

• Consider:
• Your enthusiasm
• Your ability
• Your experience
• Your other commitments
• Your goals

What if the classes are too hard?

• We build the number of classes needed to accommodate the requests you make.
• If you are in a class that is clearly above your ability level, and you realize this early, there MAY be a possibility of making a change.
• If you wait until after the first few weeks, your ability to drop a course will be based upon the level of effort you have demonstrated, what circumstances may be causing the need for change and whether a change is logistically possible.
• Each class is a year long commitment.

If you want to be considered for honors please fill out this google form:Link to GATE Form

After you have filled out the google form two things can happen

1. If you do not hear from me then assume that you have been placed in the classes that you have requested. You can always email me in the summer to check.
2. I will contact you by the email/phone number provided to discuss registration. Please use email that you check regularly.

Thank you!

Mrs. Roth, GATE Coordinator

ciara.roth@cjuhsd.net

(909) 930-2929, ext. 2152

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