Pre-Advanced Placement Information
The Lewisville ISD has developed advanced courses in science, social studies, and math for 6th,
7th, and 8th grade students called Pre-Advanced Placement (Pre-AP) classes. The student expectations
include more independent work and projects, and will provide a solid foundation fro the upcoming high
school college prep courses (Pre-AP and AP). The course descriptions for these three middle school
courses are as follows:
Pre-Advanced Placement Science:
The science curriculum is based on the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and is
comprised of two major components-content and processing skills. The content for the Pre-AP will be
greater in complexity and depth of study of the science topics and the amount of time/effort spent in
developing the processing skills. Pre-AP students should be more dedicated to academic studies and will
be expected to be much more self-directed learners and spend a significant amount of time investigating
and/or researching projects outside the class period. Each student in the Pre-AP class will be required to
successfully complete a Science Olympiad project.*
Pre-Advanced Placement Social Studies:
The Social Studies curriculum is based on the TEKS. Students will expand their skills of analysis
and interpretation of documents, statistical data, maps, graphs, and other information. This course enhances
students’ abilities in critical thinking through critical writing, problem solving and critical analysis through
research. Student expectations in this class include, but are not limited to *one research paper per
semester and *one project per semester.*
Pre-Advanced Placement Math:
In middle school the Pre-AP math classes are accelerated classes. Sixth grade pre-ap students
learn both 6th and 7th grade math. Seventh grade students learn 8th grade math. Eighth grade students
learn Algebra I a high school credit course. The grade earned in Algebra I at middle school will not be used
to determine the student’s high school GPA. It is highly recommended that the PRE-AP student maintain
an 85 or above average to insure success in future courses.
Pre-Advanced Placement ENGLISH AND READING:
Middle School Pre-AP Reading and English are courses designed for students who want to begin
building the foundation for taking Advanced Placement classes in English in high school. This foundation
helps students develop analytical reading, writing, and thinking skills necessary for success in high school,
college and career.
Pre-AP courses are rigorous and designed to extend and support cognitive challenges for any
student interested in participating. These courses offer expanded reading, writing, and critical thinking
opportunities in a supportive environment appropriate for middle school students’ developmental readiness.
In accepting this academic opportunity, students must be willing to develop effective study habits and
personal responsibility for success.
Language arts Pre-AP students are served through their Reading and English classes and must
register for both Pre-AP Reading and Pre-AP English!
Please keep these items in mind when selecting a Pre-AP class:
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A substantial amount of work outside class is required;
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The amount of time extracurricular activities take along with the additional time needed for a
Pre-AP course;
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The total number of challenging classes being considered;
The interest and self-directedness of the student for the course;
Grades earned in Pre-AP classes may be lower than grades made in previous regular courses
for science, social studies, or math.
ANY STUDENT NOT PASSING AFTER A SIX WEEKS GRADING PERIOD COULD BE REMOVED
FROM PRE-AP AND PLACED IN A REGULAR CLASS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE SCHOOL
YEAR.
To assist you and your child in determining whether to enroll in a Pre-AP class, please fill out the following
Student Profile. If most of your responses on the survey are “consistently” or “To a Great Extent”, we hope
your child will take a Pre-AP class. However, if there are a significant number of “To some extent” or “Not
at All” responses, it is probably in your child’s best interest to wait a year or so before reconsidering the
more rigorous Pre-AP classes.
STUDENT PROFILE FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL PRE-AP COURSE WORK
To what degree do you have the following attributes?
Not at
To some
To a great
Consistently
all
extent
extent
Accepts a challenge eagerly
Use school and homework time
Productively/avoid last minute panics
Demonstrates self-control
Exhibits proficient oral and written
Communication skills
Makes responsible choices and works independently
Considers other points of view
Plan, organize, and carry through a task to completion
Turns in all assignments complete and on time
Respects the rights and property of others
Attends School regularly
Cooperates and works effectively with others on
assignments
Considers a variety of alternatives when solving problems
Consistently maintained a 90 average in current class
A good predictor of success in Pre-AP is a grade of 90 in the current science, social studies, math, and/or
English and reading work.
If after careful consideration, you and your parents decide that this is the course for you, please fill in
the appropriate spaces on the front of the course choice sheet. Students who are currently enrolled in
6th grade Pre-AP math will automatically be placed in the next level. Students currently enrolled in 7th
grade Pre-AP math must sign the Algebra permission slip to be placed in Algebra. (This will be coming
home at a later date.)
If a student is NOT in 6th or 7th grade Pre-AP math and desires to be, the student must take the test to
qualify. The 6th grade test will be on March 22 and the 7th grade test will be on March 29.
PRE-ADVANCED PLACEMENT MATHEMATICS
7TH GRADE PRE-AP MATH
If a student is not in 6th grade Pre-AP Mathematics and desires to take Pre-AP 7th grade math, the student
must take the test for the Pre-AP 7th grade math and get at least 43 of 48 questions correct. This must be
done to prove that they know the 7th grade TEKS. The Pre-AP 7th grade Math course covers the 8th grade
TEKS so they are skipping instruction in the 7th grade TEKS. The test date is March 22. Parents must
contact the student’s counselor by March 1st to request testing.
8TH GRADE ALGEBRA
Algebra I in middle school will be graded as a high school course. Semester exams count 20% of the
semester grade. Each semester grade stands alone. The first and second semester grades will not be
averaged together for a final grade. Therefore, if a student passes the first semester, but fails the second
semester, the student will be required to go to summer school and retake algebra. Under school board
policy, it is considered a failure in math for the 8th grade, which are grounds for retention unless the student
passes the class in summer school.
If a student is not in 7th grade Pre-AP Mathematics and desires to take Algebra I they must take the test for
Algebra I and get at least 45 of 50 questions correct. This must be done to prove that they know the 8th
grade TEKS since they are skipping instruction in the 8th grade math TEKS. This is especially important
because they will be tested on many of these TEKS on the TAKS test through the 11th grade. The test date
will be March 29. Parents must contact the student’s counselor by March 1 to request testing.