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High School Course Description Guide

Advanced Academics

Planning for High School

Academics are the foundation of Arlington ISD. Every student deserves the opportunity to distinguish themselves academically. Advanced Academics provides those opportunities. Through the district’s Gifted and Talented services, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, AVID, OnRamps, and a variety of enrichment programs our brightest, most able learners are provided differentiated and enriched instruction designed to challenge and encourage their academic endeavors. With consideration of the characteristics of gifted students and their learning needs, our students are afforded opportunities to build on their strengths, to become critical thinkers, to challenge themselves to grow academically and to emerge as tomorrow’s leaders.

What kinds of courses are offered?

Pre-AP Courses are College Board courses that specifically prepare students for success in AP courses.

  • Pre-AP English I (9th)
  • Pre-AP English II (10th)
  • Pre-AP World History and Geography (9th & 10th)
  • Pre-AP Algebra I (9th)
  • Pre-AP Algebra II (9th - 11th)
  • Pre-AP Geometry (9th - 11th)
  • Pre-AP Biology (9th & 10th)
  • Pre-AP Chemistry (9th - 11th)
  • Pre-AP Visual and Performing Arts (9th - 11th)

Advanced Courses are AISD-designated courses that provide additional challenges and prepare students for further advanced study in AP, IB, OnRamps, and dual credit.

  • Advanced Spanish, French, German, and Chinese II, III, IV, and Advanced Latin III

Advanced Placement (AP) courses give students the opportunity to participate in college-level work in high school and earn college credit. These courses provide broad knowledge of the subject and build skills needed to succeed in college.

  • AP English Language (11th)
  • AP English Literature (12th)
  • AP Human Geography (9th, elective 12th)
  • AP World History (10th)
  • AP US History (11th)
  • AP US Government & Politics (12th)
  • AP Macroeconomics (12th)
  • AP Comparative Government & Politics (12th)
  • AP European History (12th)
  • AP African American Studies (10th - 12th)
  • AP Psychology (11th & 12th)
  • AP Statistics (11th & 12th)
  • AP Pre-Calculus (10th - 12th)
  • AP Calculus AB (12th)
  • AP Calculus BC (12th)
  • AP Biology (11th & 12th)
  • AP Chemistry (11th & 12th)
  • AP Physics 1 & 2 (11th & 12th)
  • AP Physics C: Mechanics (12th)
  • AP Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism (12th)
  • AP Environmental Science (11th & 12th)
  • AP Computer Science Principles (9th - 12th)
  • AP Computer Science A (10th - 12th)
  • AP Spanish, French, & German Language & Culture
  • AP Spanish Literature & Culture
  • AP Latin
  • AP Art & Design: Drawing, 2D, & 3D (10th-12th)
  • AP Art History (11th & 12th)
  • AP Music Theory (10th-12th)

International Baccalaureate (IB) is a rigorous academic program that emphasizes student initiative and independent study. The focus is on both academics and developing a global perspective of the IB challenges students academically, builds crucial skills necessary for college success, and offers the opportunity for college credit.

  • IB English Literature
  • IB English Language & Literature
  • IB Theory of Knowledge
  • IB History of the Americas
  • IB Geography
  • IB Economics
  • IB Psychology
  • IB Mathematics Applications & Interpretations
  • IB Mathematics Analysis & Approaches
  • IB Biology
  • IB Chemistry
  • IB Physics
  • IB Environmental Systems & Societies
  • IB Spanish, French, German ab initio 9-12
  • IB Spanish, French, German, & Latin III & IV
  • IB Visual Arts
  • IB Film
  • IB Theatre
  • IB Dance
  • IB Music

All IB courses are for 11th & 12th only unless otherwise noted

Dual Credit Courses, through our partnership with Tarrant County College, are taught by TCC professors. As with many college courses, there are typically fewer graded assignments and fewer reminders, so this is a great opportunity for students to test their ability to keep themselves on track.

  • Dual Credit English IV
  • Dual Credit Government
  • Dual Credit Economics
  • Dual Credit Psychology
  • Dual Credit Sociology

OnRamps is a dual credit option offered through UT Austin. An AISD teacher facilitates a college course that is taught online by a UT professor. This is a great option for students who have not yet ventured into challenging coursework because they have the support from their high school teacher.

  • OnRamps GeoScience
  • OnRamps Precalculus
  • OnRamps Statistics
  • OnRamps College Algebra
  • OnRamps Discovery Precalculus
  • OnRamps Physics 1: Mechanics, Heat, & Sound
  • OnRamps Rhetoric
  • Arlington ISD supports students taking advanced academic courses whenever they decide they want to take on the Some courses do have prerequisites, but it is not a requirement for you to have taken advanced courses before to take advanced, AP, or IB courses.
  • There are processes for enrolling in dual credit that students must follow, and that includes successfully completing the TSI. See the school counselor for details.
  • All provide academic challenges and opportunities to increase knowledge in the subject as well as critical thinking skills.
  • All require students to build and improve the skills that support academic success, such as organization, time management, and asking for help.
  • All except advanced provide the opportunity for college credit.
  • Pre-AP, Advanced, AP, IB, and OnRamps all provide honors credit when applied to a student’s GPA. Dual credit through TCC begins earning honors credit with the 2025 cohort.
  • Pre-AP, Advanced, AP, & IB courses are offered in language arts, math, science, social studies, computer science & technology, foreign languages, and the arts. Dual Credit and OnRamps offerings are more limited.
  • Students may pursue the IB Diploma Program, which is a set of 7 courses taken over junior and senior year. Students taking the full diploma receive additional support and have the opportunity to earn more college credit and scholarships. Students may also choose to take any individual IB courses that are open-enrollment, just as they can with other advanced courses.

The good news is that students do not need to choose just one type of course. Students can mix-and-match, building the course selections that best fit each individual’s interests and abilities. Talk with the school’s counselors, teachers, and advanced academic coordinator for more details.

  • The first line of support for students and parents is the teacher. Struggling students will most often find that asking questions and seeking help from the teacher are the keys to their success. - In cases where students are not able to pass a course, AISD provides a drop policy that allows students to move to an on-level course when available. Students must stay in an advanced class for six weeks in order to give themselves the opportunity to work through any initial struggles or fears. After that, students may, in consultation with their teacher, parent, and counselor, drop an advanced course before the 12th week.
  • AVID is a school-wide college-readiness support system that prepares students for college eligibility and success. AVID curriculum focuses on WICOR (Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, and Reading) to build student learning and performance. AVID’s mission is to close the opportunity gap by preparing all students for college readiness and success in a global society. Students in the AVID elective receive additional support to help them succeed in their advanced academics courses.
  • We provide gifted and talented (GT) identification and support services as well as parent resources to help families understand the unique needs of GT students.
  • The Advanced Academics department supports Academic Decathlon & shares information about other additional educational opportunities.
  • AISD offers free college testing for students. All sophomores take the PSAT with 11th grade opting The SAT is offered to all juniors each spring, and the ACT is offered to all seniors each fall. Both of these exams can be used for college admission. We also regularly offer the TSI, an assessment of students skills that can support college application and placement.
  • Colleges want to see students taking on academic challenges, and we provide many options for students to do Taking on challenges now allows students to struggle and grow in a protective, supportive environment. They will learn content as well as the skills they will use to succeed in college.

Planning for High School

Arlington ISD Campus
Information
Graduation Requirements and Programs
General Information and Policies
Advanced Academics
College and Career Readiness
Course
Catalog
Special Education
Miscellaneous Course Codes
Arlington ISD
Guidance and Counseling

OPTIONS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO STUDENTS WHO HAVE LEARNING DIFFICULTIES OR WHO NEED OR MAY NEED SPECIAL EDUCATION

If a child is experiencing learning difficulties, the parent may contact the person listed below to learn about the district’s overall general education referral or screening system for support services. This system links students to a variety of support options, including referral for a special education evaluation. Students having difficulty in the regular classroom should be considered for tutorial, compensatory, and other support services that are available to all students.

At any time, a parent is entitled to request an evaluation for special education services. Within a reasonable amount of time, the district must decide if the evaluation is needed. If evaluation is needed, the parent will be notified and asked to provide consent for the evaluation. The district must complete the evaluation and the report within 45 calendar days of the date the district receives the written consent. The district must give a copy of the report to the parent.

If the district determines that the evaluation is not needed, the district will provide the parent with a written notice that explains why the child will not be evaluated. This written notice will include a statement that informs the parent of their rights if they disagree with the district. Additionally, the notice must inform the parent how to obtain a copy of the Notice of Procedural Safeguards - Rights of Parents of Students with Disabilities.

The designated person to contact regarding options for a child experiencing learning difficulties or a referral for evaluation for special education is:

Contact School Counselor Or Special Education Services Office 682-867-7690

Notification of Parents’ Right of Access to Educational Records

A parent is entitled to access all written records concerning the student including attendance records, test scores, grades, disciplinary records, counseling/psychological records, applications for admission, health and immunization information, teacher, counselor evaluations and reports of behavioral patterns. Questions regarding access to a child’s records should be answered by referring to Senate Bill 1, Section 26.004, approved June, 1995.

NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT

The Arlington School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, gender, national origin, religion or disability in education programs, admissions/ enrollment decisions or activities which it operates, as required by Title II, Title VI, Title IX, and Section 504.

CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT

The Arlington Independent School District, in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (“FERPA”) restricts access to protected student records as required by law. Directory information on students will be released upon request without a parent’s consent, unless the parent elects in writing to restrict directory information. The form on which parents can indicate their election is sent home each year.

STRUCTURAL PEST CONTROL

Schools periodically apply pesticides. Information concerning these applications may be obtained by contacting the building principals.