What are Pre-Advanced Placement (Pre-AP) courses?
Pre-AP Math classes are academically accelerated courses. All Pre-AP courses are designed to challenge motivated students to understand rigorous content. The coursework requires students to engage in independent and analytical assignments and to complete a substantial amount of work outside of class.
Middle school Pre-AP math courses are designed to prepare students for intermediate and high school Pre-AP and Advanced Placement (AP) courses. AP courses are college-level courses taught in a high school setting. At the end of each AP course an AP Exam is given. Qualifying scores on the AP exams can enable students to receive college credit and/or advanced standing at a university or college..
What are the characteristics of a successful Pre-AP student?
Students who experience success in Pre-AP courses typically exhibit the following personal and academic characteristics:
Personal Characteristics:
• Reading on or above grade level
• Strong study skills and self-motivation
• Proficient oral and written communications skills
• Self-discipline to plan, organize, and carry out tasks to completion
• Interest and self-directedness in a particular subject
Academic Characteristics:
• Successful completion of prerequisite coursework
• Successful performance in related content area courses
• Teacher recommendation
• Scores at the commended level on the most recent state assessment closely related to the Pre-AP course being considered
Are all Pre-AP classes the same?
There are some differences in the expectations between content areas. Pre-AP Math is an accelerated curriculum program with the content different than the on-grade-level math course. In other words, in order to accelerate through the curriculum to take an AP math course in high school, students must learn more math content in middle school, with the possibility of high school credit in 8th grade through Algebra I.
English, science, and social studies courses are taught on-grade-level with increased rigor and academic expectations. These differences are designed to prepare students for future participation in high school level AP courses.
Mathematics: Pre-AP Math accelerated content is structured as follows:
- 5th Grade = All of 5th Grade TEKS & 1/2 of 6th Grade TEKS
**5th Graders will take 5th grade Math STAAR Test**
- 6th Grade = 1/2 of 6th Grade TEKS & All of 7th Grade TEKS
**6th Graders will take 7th grade Math STAAR Test**