Department Staff

The Pre-Advanced Placement/Advanced Placement (Pre-AP/AP) program provides the opportunity for students to develop academic and critical thinking skills in a challenging learning environment.  Students become persistent, independent thinkers who are prepared for the next level, increasing the likelihood of college success.

• Students with the fortitude to endure high academic rigor can benefit from the Pre-AP/AP Program

• Skill development for the Pre-AP/AP Program begins in the elementary grades

• Pre-AP/AP students deserve the same support as struggling students because success is a process that might require struggle and perseverance

• The primary focus of Pre-AP/AP courses is on learning skills and content

• The role of the Pre-AP/AP student is to acquire the skills for success through a commitment to independent preparation and study

• Full participation in the Pre-AP continuum within a particular discipline is the preferred path to AP success

Pre-AP (Pre-Advanced Placement) courses provide students in Grades 6-12 the opportunity to learn the same course material but at a faster pace and at a deeper level of understanding than in regular-level courses. Pre-AP courses are designed to develop the critical reading, analytic problem solving, and clear writing skills needed for successful completion of college-level work while still in high school. Enrolling in Pre-AP courses is highly recommended for students who wish to take Advanced Placement (AP) or Dual Credit classes while in high school.

Advanced Placement (AP) courses provide college-level coursework for high school students who are ready and willing to do college-level work while in high school. AP courses follow the content and curricular objectives established by the College Board. Colleges and universities have the option of accepting AP exam scores for college credit. HB 1992, signed into law in June of 2015, requires all Texas public colleges and universities to award college credit to students who submit scores of 3 and higher on AP Exams. Each AP teacher's course syllabus is submitted and approved by the College Board on an annual basis. Furthermore, all AP courses are weighted in the calculation of grade point averages.

All courses designated as "AP" courses are college-level courses taken while students are still enrolled in high school. Students should expect subject matter and course work loads to be similar to a college-level course. This often means daily course reading outside of the school day. All students enrolled in AP courses are expected to take the College​

Board AP Exam for that course in May of the enrolled school year. There is a fee associated with the taking of each AP exam that is set by the College Board each year. Qualified students may receive exam cost reductions or fee waivers.

By taking AP Exams each may, students may earn AP Scholar Awards from the College Board, which recognize student success and achievement in AP courses and on AP Exams. In addition, scores of 3 and above on AP Exams count as advanced measures for the Distinguished Achievement Graduation Plan.