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Advanced Academics
WISD is committed to the principle that all students deserve an opportunity to participate in rigorous and academically challenging courses. In junior high, all students who are willing to accept the challenge of a rigorous academic curriculum should consider enrollment in advanced and Pre-AP courses. The most important predictor of college success is an academically rigorous high school experience. Rigorous coursework in junior high provides students with the foundation to complete college-level coursework in high school.
Students in advanced courses will be challenged in a variety of ways which may include: introduction to the content at a faster pace, depth and complexity in which the content is taught, inquiry-based learning, and critical thinking and analysis to solve problems.
WISD strongly believes that advanced and Pre-AP courses provide enhanced academic opportunities for all students; the district also recognizes students may struggle academically. WISD encourages students and parents to monitor grades closely during the grading periods. If a student begins to struggle, it is encouraged that a parent/teacher conference is scheduled to create strategies to be implemented over a period of time that will aid in the student's success.
Advanced and Pre-AP courses focus on three critical goals:
Increasing rigor
Promoting equity
Developing critical knowledge and skills
WISD strongly encourages educators to make equitable access a guiding principle for their advanced programs by giving all willing and academically prepared students the opportunity to participate in advanced coursework.
Preparation for Advanced and Pre-AP Courses:
Academic preparation: willingness to work hard
Motivation: determination to succeed
The Pre-AP Program (grades 8-12) is a program offered to schools by the College Board. Pre-AP courses deliver grade-level appropriate instruction through focused course frameworks, instructional resources, and learning checkpoints and Performance Tasks. Participating schools receive an official Pre-AP designation for each course and the opportunity to bring engaging, meaningful, foundational coursework to all their students across varying levels of abilities. This designation signals consistent, high standards in focused courses that help build, strengthen, and reinforce students’ content knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Advanced (grades 8 - 12) courses are core classes that are not guided by College Board but are foundational in preparation for Pre-AP, AP and Dual Credit classes.
Advanced course options for 6th grade:
Advanced ELAR
Advanced Science
Advanced Social Studies
Advanced Math with additional 7th Grade standards (Students will take the 6th Grade STAAR Test.)
Advanced Mathematics Track for Junior High
Advanced 6th and 7th-grade math are accelerated. Students will be covering 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade math in two years. Advanced math students will take the 8th grade STAAR in 7th grade. In 8th grade, the students on the advanced math track will complete Pre-AP Algebra I in 8th grade with the Algebra I STAAR End of course exam, required for high school graduation. By successfully completing this exam, students will earn one high school math credit in junior high. This allows the opportunity for students to take additional advanced math courses in high school such as AP Calculus, AP Statistics, and/or dual credit math courses.
The Pre-AP Program (grades 8-12) is a program offered to schools by the College Board. Pre-AP courses deliver grade-level appropriate instruction through focused course frameworks, instructional resources, and learning checkpoints. Participating schools receive an official Pre-AP designation for each course and the opportunity to bring engaging, meaningful, foundational coursework to all their students across varying levels of abilities. This designation signals consistent, high standards in focused courses that help build, strengthen, and reinforce students’ content knowledge and critical thinking skills.
While our upper-level advanced classes are open enrollment, we encourage you to review the class rigor and expectations both during the school day as well as outside the school day in regard to the level of expectation and time commitment.
Gifted and Talented Services
The Waxahachie ISD Gifted and Talented Program provides instructional opportunities and other services designed to meet the unique needs of gifted and talented students. The teachers serving identified gifted and talented students have met the state requirements necessary for the assignment of gifted and talented students. As needed, the teacher will meet the students' needs through modified delivery of instruction by accelerating and/or providing for greater depth, complex content, and enrichment activities. Students who participate in services designed for gifted students will demonstrate skills in self-directed learning, thinking, research, and communication, as evidenced by the development of innovative products and performances that are advanced in relation to students of similar age, experience, or environment and that reflect individuality and creativity. Waxahachie ISD junior high identified gifted and talented students are served through advanced courses in the core subject areas of Math, ELAR, Science, and Social Studies. They will also be provided with learning experiences that lead to the development of an advanced-level product or performance. Students are encouraged to participate in extra-curricular options such as GT Tribe Time Troop, GT Family Events, GT Summer Camp, Academic UIL, Campus Science Fair, and Destination Imagination.
All identified GT students must enroll in at least one advanced course.
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