Middle School Honors Courses
The Cedar Hill Independent School District secondary schools offer students the opportunity to participate in Honors courses so that they may better prepare themselves for college. Because these classes are similar to college level classes, students are challenged to be more disciplined, structured, and to perform at a higher academic level.
The AP (Advanced Placement) Program is administered by the College Board of New York. It allows students to participate in college level courses and possibly earn college credit while still attending high school. Secondary schools and colleges cooperate in this program to give students the opportunity to show mastery in college level courses by taking Advanced Placement (AP) Exams in May of each school year.
The Honors Program (available in middle school) is the complementary preparatory program that is designed to provide students with the necessary skills to be successful in AP courses, beginning in 9th grade. In CHISD, these skills together with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) comprise the syllabi for honors courses.
HONORS COURSES RECOMMENDED ENROLLMENT CRITERIA:
Honors English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR):
STAAR Scores that meet the Meets & Masters level in Reading
A final grade in the previous ELAR course of 85 or higher (if Honors, 80 or higher)
Honors Math :
STAAR Scores that meet the Meets & Masters level in Mathematics
A final grade in the previous Math course of 85 or higher (if Honors, 80 or higher)
Honors Science :
STAAR Scores that meet the Meets & Masters level in 5th grade Science (6th grade)
STAAR Scores that meet the Meets & Masters level in Mathematics (7th - 8th grade)
A final grade in the previous Science course of 85 or higher (if Honors, 80 or higher)
Honors Social Studies :
STAAR Scores that meet the Meets & Masters level in Reading
A final grade in the previous Science course of 85 or higher (if Honors, 80 or higher)
Honors EXIT PROCESS
Students may exit a two-semester Honors course no later than ninth week of the fall or spring semester by following the exit process below.
EXITING PROCESS
Scholars may exit a one-semester and two-semester Honors/Advanced Placement course between no earlier than the first progress report and no later than the 6th week grade report of the Fall or Spring semester by following the exit process below.
Schedule changes that are scholar/parent requested for Honors and Advanced Placement courses must be made within the first two weeks of each semester. The processes listed below must be followed:
Participate in a scholar/teacher intervention meeting.
Attend a minimum of four documented tutorial sessions for a two-semester and two documented tutorial sessions for a one-semester course.
Participate in a documented scholar/parent/teacher/counselor intervention meeting.
Obtain a “Request to Drop an Advanced Academic Course” form from their counselor
Submit the form to the Dean of Instruction to sign for approval. The Dean of Instruction will decide whether to approve or deny the scholar’s request.
Submit the completed and signed form to the counselor.
In all cases, for Honors or Advanced Placement exit requests, if the request is approved, schedule changes will be subject to course availability. If a scholar transfers out of a class, the scholar’s grades will directly transfer to the course into which the scholar enters (i.e. a 60 in a H/Advanced Placement course becomes a 60 in a on-level course).
Scholars beginning the second semester of a two-semester course are expected to remain in the course throughout the semester.