Advanced and Advanced Placement (AP) Courses

Slide Deck from Parent Book Review Meeting - AP Lang. & AP Lit. Titles Grades 11th & 12th
Slide Deck from Parent Book Review Meeting - ASPIRE Engl. Titles Grades 6th -12th

Advanced Placement (AP) courses will challenge students with college-level material, which provides them with the academic experiences needed to be successful in earning a college degree.  Students will also have the opportunity to prepare and take an AP exam, which could earn them college credit.  In order for students to be academically successful in AP courses, they are required to complete work outside of the classroom experience similar to what is expected of college students taking a similar course.

AP Courses and Exams
College Board has updated information regarding Advanced Placement courses and exams. Visit these resources for the latest information.
AP News and Updates | For AP Students | Exam Schedule | For AP Educators | College Board website
 
A course description for all Pre-AP and AP courses can be found in GCISD's Course Selection Guide. This is a comprehensive guide that includes a lot of helpful information, such as (but not limited to):

  • All the courses offered in core content areas, foreign languages, and electives
  • Links to the middle school course selection guide
  • All the courses that count towards GPA and class rank
  • Career planning resources
  • How courses are weighted (Important note: GT courses are weighted the same as their Pre-AP and AP counterparts)

English

GCISD offers the following Pre-AP and AP English classes at the high school level:

  • Pre-AP English I
  • Pre-AP English II
  • Pre-AP English III
  • AP English III Language and Composition
  • AP English IV Literature and Composition

Social Studies

GCISD offers the following Pre-AP and AP Social Studies classes at the high school level:

  • Pre-AP World Geography
  • AP Human Geography
  • Pre-AP World History
  • AP World History
  • Pre-AP United States History
  • AP European History
  • AP United States History
  • AP US Government
  • AP Comparative Government and Politics
  • AP Micro-economics
  • AP Psychology
  • AP Seminar
  • AP Research

Mathematics

GCISD offers the following Pre-AP and AP Math classes at the high school level:

  • Pre-AP Algebra I
  • Pre-AP Geometry
  • Pre-AP Algebra II
  • Pre-AP Precalculus
  • AP Calculus AB
  • AP Calculus BC
  • AP Statistics
  • Multivariable Calculus [Offered under Independent Study in Math course number—for weighted credit]
  • Differential Equations [Offered under Independent Study in Math course number—for weighted credit]
  • Independent Study

Acceleration in Middle School Math:
Accelerated math course are designed to prepare students for entry into Pre-AP/AP courses at the high school level and meet the needs of accelerated or identified GT math students. All of the sixth, seventh, and pre-Algebra TEKS objectives are compacted to prepare the student for Pre-AP Algebra I in the 8th grade. Critical thinking skills are incorporated through the use of non-routine problems, contrasting, classifying, deducing, discarding irrelevant information, evaluating solutions, and verbal written justifications of solutions and strategies. Creative Problem Solving and exploration will incorporate the use of technology and stimulate creative and logical thought processes. Students must process advanced facility with numbers and have a sincere interest in mathematics.

  • 6th Grade Accelerated Math
  • 7th Grade Accelerated Math

These courses are designed to prepare students for entry into Advanced Placement (AP) course at the high school level and meet the needs of the accelerated or identified GT math students.

  • 8th Grade Pre-AP Algebra I
  • Pre-AP Geometry

Science

GCISD offers the following Pre-AP and AP Science classes at the high school level:

  • Pre-AP Biology
  • AP Biology
  • Pre-AP Integrated Physics and Chemistry
  • Pre AP Chemistry
  • AP Chemistry
  • AP Physics I
  • AP Physics II
  • AP Physics C
  • AP Environmental Science

Acceleration in Middle School Science:
These courses are designed to prepare students for entry into Pre-AP/Advanced Placement courses at the high school level and meet the needs of the district's advanced and gifted/talented science students. This compacted science program integrates technology and science lab experiences into hands-on, inquiry-based curriculum. Students will receive instruction in TEKS objectives from sixth, seventh, and eighth grade programs as a means of compacting middles school science in preparation for Pre-AP Biology in the eighth grade.

  • 6th Grade Accelerated Science
  • 7th Grade Accelerated Science

This course is designed to prepare students for entry into Advanced Placement (AP) courses at the high school level and meet the needs of the district's Pre-AP and gifted/talented science students. Students conduct field and laboratory investigations, use scientific methods during investigations, and make informed decisions using critical thinking and scientific problem solving. Students in Biology study a variety of topics that include: structures and functions of cells and viruses; growth and development of organisms; cells, tissues and organs; nucleic acids and genetics; biological evolution; taxonomy; metabolism and energy transfers in living organisms; living systems; homeostasis; and ecosystems and the environment.

  • 8th Grade Pre-AP Biology

*To ensure preparation for the advanced mathematics skills needed in AP Science courses, enrollment in Algebra I in middle school is highly recommended.

Fine Arts

GCISD offers the following Pre-AP and AP Fine Arts classes at the high school level:

  • Pre-AP Art I Studio Art
  • Pre-AP Two-Dimensional Studio Art
  • Pre-AP Three-Dimensional Studio Art
  • AP Drawing Portfolio
  • AP Two-Dimensional Portfolio
  • AP Three-Dimensional Portfolio
  • Pre-AP Art History
  • AP History of Art
  • Pre-AP Music Theory
  • AP Music Theory