Purpose of the Pathways Program

The purpose of the Pathways Program is to set a high academic standard for all Accelerated (ACC), Pre-Advanced Placement (Pre-AP), and Advanced Placement (AP) courses.

Rationale for the Pathways Program
Accelerated, Pre-AP, and AP courses are designed based on the assumption that participants have acquired a level of proficiency beyond basic reading, writing, and study skills. Therefore, the instructional emphasis in these courses will be on analysis and the higher level thinking skills as well as on more complex levels of structure and style in composition. Students who are unable to meet the standards as set forth by the syllibi for ACC, Pre-AP, and AP classes will be better served in more structured, slower-paced environments where they might experience a sense of achievement and acquire the skills necessary to be successful on the TAKS and the TASP. It is necessary to meet the rigorous academic need of the advanced and accelerated students and, at the same time, preserve the integrity of the AP curriculum program.

Student Considerations in Choosing a Pathways Course

Pathways classes are available to any student who chooses to attempt the ACC, Pre-AP, or AP curriculum. Students are strongly advised to seek recommendations from the current year teacher and/or the school counselor before singing up for either of the more difficult Pathways.

It is recommended that students take no more than two (2) Pathways courses in a semester. If a student chooses to take more than two Pathways courses, students and parents should consider the following:

• the amount of homework given in all classes taken
• the extracurricular activities in which the student is involved
• the student's desire to work

Student Obligations

Changes in Pathways courses will not be allowed once a student commits to taking a course since the school schedule is developed according to student requests. Parents and students are advised to choose carefully and to seek advice from teachers, counselors, and administrators.

Once students register for a given Pathway, they are required to stay in the class they selected until:

• the required grade for the class is not met for two six-weeks periods, at which time the student is removed at semester to a less rigorous Pathway, or
• the teacher makes a recommendation after a discussion with the student and the parent to make a move to a different Pathway

Students in the ACC, Pre-AP, or AP Pathways are required to maintain a 70 or higher in order to stay in the advanced level courses. In the event that a student's grade drops below the required 70 for any six-weeks period, the following steps will be taken:

• Parent contact is made to discuss the nature of the problems the student is having in satisfactorily meeting the standards of the course.
• The student is placed on probation for the rest of the year. Removal at semester more than likely could be recommended if a second six-weeks is below standard (70) at any time during the remainder of the year.
• In the event a student's grade drops below 70 for the second time during the last six-weeks period of a year, the student could be denied access the following semester.
• Before reassigning a student to a standard level course, a committee will review any extenuating circumstances (such as extended illness or family problems) over which a student has little or no control and make exception in situations where it is warranted.

Parent Requirements for Orientation Night

Parents are required to attend a Pathways Orientation Night at which time the teachers of the ACC, Pre-AP, and AP classes will discuss the guidelines, major course differences, and expectations for the classes. A student contract signed by the parent verifying the Pathways Orientation was attended or that a personal conference was scheduled with the teacher at a different time to discuss the class requirements will be required for every Pathways course for which a student registers. Without a signed student contract, a student will not be allowed to take an ACC, Pre-AP, or AP course.

Course Weight

Pre-AP and AP classes will be assigned a 10-point weight. ACC classes will be assigned a 5-point weight. Regular curriculum classes will carry no weight.

Calculations for Course Weight

Weight will be awarded at the end of each semester and will be added manually to the final semester average for class ranking purposes only. The weight never will be reflected on the report card. At six-weeks grading periods, the weight will be considered and manually added to the grade for honor roll, academic letters, exemptions, and class ranking purposes. Weight will not be considered or added for eligibility purposes. Students will be required to pass an ACC, Pre-AP, and AP course before the weight is added to the semester average. Failing the class will result in a loss of credit, and the weight will be denied.

Test and Grading Requirements

A minimum of 2 major, full-length tests will be given each six-weeks in every Pathways class. Every major, full-length test will include a minimum of 3 essays and/or open-ended questions to be answered in paragraph form.

No mandatory retakes are given in Pathways classes. Teachers have discretion to give retakes on a case-by-case basis if a particular student has an extenuating circumstance or the teacher has reason to believe the original test was flawed.

Comprehensive Semester Exam Requirements

Students in ACC classes will be required to take 1 comprehensive semester exam per year in each Pathways class. Students in Pre-AP or AP classes will be required to take a comprehensive exam both semesters in each Pathways course.

Comprehensive semester exams in ACC, Pre-AP, and AP courses will be given no earlier than two weeks prior to the end of the semester. These tests will assess the material that has been covered all three six-weeks and will be designed to take most (if not all) of the period to administer. These exams will not be simply multiple-choice, true/false, or short answer but will include paragraph or short essay written responses wherein information is compared, analyzed, evaluated, etc.

In addition, grades earned from these exams will be part of the student's grade prior to earning an exemption. Students will be eligible to exempt the actual semester test given during finals week if they have an 85 average after all three six-weeks and the comprehensive exam are averaged (and weighted points are added to the final grade). Those who do not make an 85 will then be additionally required to attend school during finals week and to take an additional 50-minute exam which will then be averaged with the other grades already outlined above. The comprehensive exam will be weighted 1/7 of the semester grade. Then, if a student is unable to exempt, he will take an additional test during the scheduled semester exam time, and the two scores will be averaged together and calculated as 1/7 of the semester grade.

Dual Credit Courses

Students enrolled in dual credit classes will be required to meet the expectations of the college course in which they opted to enroll.

Course Availability

Students and parents should be advised that if not more than 10 students request a course, there is a strong possibility that requested course will not be offered. If scheduling and personnel allow for a class less than 10 to be offered, we certainly will let populate the class.