What are Pre-Advanced Placement (Pre-AP) courses?
Pre-AP courses are on-grade level academically
advanced courses designed to challenge motivated students to
understand rigorous content. The coursework requires students
to engage in independent and analytical assignments and to
complete a substantial amount of work outside of class.
Somerset Academy Charter offers Pre-AP courses in English,
science, and social studies.
Pre-AP middle school courses are designed to
prepare students for high school Pre-AP and Advanced Placement
(AP) courses. AP courses are college-level courses taught in a
high school setting. At the end of each AP course an AP Exam is
given. Qualifying scores on the AP exams can enable students to
receive college credit and/or advanced standing at a university
or college.
What Pre-AP
courses are available at Somerset Academy Charter Middle?
English,
Science, Social Studies
What
provision will be in place for Pre-AP English, science, and
social studies courses?
Heterogeneously grouped 6th grade
classrooms will allow teachers to develop and implement a
rigorous differentiated curriculum for all students. Classroom
instruction will concentrate on developing essential
foundational skills and concepts.
What about Math?
Because Somerset Academy Charter has a high
school adjacent to the middle school, middle school students are
able to take advanced Math courses and high school credits.
Please view our curriculum guide.
Are there entry
criteria for enrolling in Pre-AP courses?
Students who experience success in Pre-AP courses
typically exhibit the following personal and academic
characteristics.
Personal Characteristics:
·
Reading on or above grade level
·
Strong study skills and self-motivation
·
Proficient oral and written communications skills
·
Self-discipline to plan, organize, and carry out
tasks to completion
·
Interest and self-directedness in a particular
subject
Academic Characteristics:
·
Successful completion of prerequisite coursework
·
Grade of 90 (A) or higher in an academic class
6-8th grade
·
Grade of 80 (B) or higher in a Pre-AP class
·
FCAT scores of 4’s or 5’s for entering 6th
grade students
·
FCAT scores of 4’s for entering 7th –
8th grade students
·
Successful performance in related content area
courses - Example: math and science or English and social
studies
·
Teacher recommendation
How many Pre-AP
courses should a student take?
Students are encouraged to take Pre-AP courses
that are appropriate to their interests and academic strengths.
The number of Pre-AP courses also varies with students’
motivation, self-discipline, and available time outside of
class. Students are not expected to enroll in Pre-AP courses in
all core subject areas.
Must a student
take Pre-AP courses in order to be prepared for college?
All academic courses at Somerset Academy offer
appropriate instruction to prepare students for college or
university work. Many Somerset Academy students without Pre-AP
and AP coursework successfully complete college educations.
What is the
purpose of the contracts for Pre-AP courses?
The contracts describe general course
expectations and the entrance and exit guidelines for Pre-AP
courses. Signatures of parents and students on the contracts
are verification that they are familiar with and agree to follow
the standards and general expectations for Pre-AP courses.
What are the
exit and probation guidelines for Pre-AP courses?
If a student has a class average below 80, he/she
is placed on probation for a three-week period, during which
time the grade must be brought back up to 80 or the student will
be exited from the course. A student whose grade average
remains below 80 in a Pre-AP class will benefit more from the
academic class in that subject than from the Pre-AP class where
the student is falling behind because of the pace or depth of
the course content.
Additional
information on the middle school Pre-AP program is available
from the Middle school counselor and Guidance Director.
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