Academics

Pre-AP is a program for students who are highly motivated, developing college-bound behavior, and capable of performing at an academic level above their grade placement. At this level, students move at a faster pace in a more academically challenging environment to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills. These courses provide students with opportunities to develop a strong foundation by exploring a subject in greater depth and developing skills, habits of mind, and concepts needed to succeed in college preparatory coursework. 

Pre-AP courses prepare students for dual credit and/or Advanced Placement (AP) courses they have the opportunity to take in high school and are offered in the four core subject areas. Additionally, Spanish III is a Pre-AP course. Pre-AP students can expect more independent learning and more homework than a regular class. Students and parents are required to sign and abide for the Grand Prairie ISD Pre-AP/AP contract.
 
Students may express an interest in taking a Pre-AP course by obtaining a Pre-AP Request form from the Advanced Academics Specialist or the counselors' office. Prior grades, achievement test scores, and STAAR scores are evaluated by the Advanced Academics Specialist when a student is considering enrollment into a Pre-AP course.

In accordance with the Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted and Talented Students, students in the Gifted and Talented (GT) program are screened using multiple criteria, which include both quantitative and qualitative data. Placement decisions are made by a Campus Selection Committee, and policies for appeals, furloughs, and exit procedures are available upon request. In middle school, GT students are served in the four core academic areas according to their identified strengths. 

GT courses are often paired with Pre-AP courses and include all of the elements of Pre-AP courses. Within this combination of courses, GT students receive instruction and learning opportunities appropriately differentiated to meet the needs of more advanced learners, enabling students to engage in more elaborate, complex, and in-depth studies of abstract ideas, problems, and themes.  As with the Pre-AP courses, students can expect a more academically challenging environment to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills, as well as more independent learning and more homework than a regular class. These courses provide students with opportunities to develop a strong foundation by exploring a subject in greater depth and developing skills, habits of mind, and concepts needed to succeed in college preparatory coursework. Students and parents are required to sign and abide for the Grand Prairie ISD Pre-AP/AP contract.
 
Nominations for the Gifted and Talented Program may be submitted to the Advanced Academics Specialist. Students may be nominated by parents, teachers, counselors, administrators, or any other interested party who is familiar with the student's abilities.

At the middle school level, AP Spanish Language is offered to students who qualify for the course via a placement exam or the successful completion of Pre-AP Spanish III. 

Advanced Placement (AP) courses are part of a program begun by The College Board, a not for profit association whose mission is to connect students to college success and opportunity. High schools across the United States work with The College Board to offer these advanced courses. Through AP courses, students ...

• take college level coursework in high school
• study subjects in depth
• explore the world from multiple perspectives
• develop study habits for tackling rigorous work
• focus on deeper reasoning, analysis, and problem-solving
• show universities they were willing to take on the demands of an AP course and they are ready for colleges

Through AP exams, students earn college credit with a passing score on an AP exam. Each college and university establishes accepted scores on specific exams for college credit. When looking at college choice and planning for AP classes in high school, this is important information. The Advanced Academics Specialist can show you how to locate this information.

BEGINNING ART
This course is designed for the student who has not had instruction in art. This course will explore the different mediums of art including painting, drawing, and ceramics. Sixth, seventh, and eighth graders may take this course.

ADVANCED ART
This course is designed for the student who completed Advanced Art I or Art I in the sixth grade. The student must submit an art portfolio for approval by the instructor. This course will explore the different mediums of art including painting, drawing, and ceramics. Students will participate in one art show each semester and will have the opportunity to participate in VASE.

Symphonic Band

The Symphonic Band is comprised of musically and technically advanced students and is the flagship musical ensemble of the YMLA band program. Membership in this organization is earned through the combination of audition, behavior, effort, proper balanced instrumentation of the ensemble and overall performance history. The Symphonic Band performs many concerts throughout the year and competes in UIL Concert and Sight-reading Contest, festivals, pep rallies, and award ceremonies.

The highest performance and participation expectations are placed on the members of Symphonic band. Representing the YMLA Symphonic band is a privilege and responsibility, members failing to adequately prepare may forfeit the right to audition or perform with the Symphonic band. Other consequences may include loss of chair placement or placement in a lower performing ensemble at the director’s discretion.

Performance requirements include:

• Preparing All-District and All-Region music
• Perform at Solo and Ensemble contest.
• Weekly sectional attendance throughout the year.
• Symphonic Band students will be expected to participate in before or after school full band rehearsals and weekend performances.

Concert Band

The Concert Band is comprised of students with at least one full year of musical and technical skills. Membership is determined by audition, daily behavior and effort, proper balanced instrumentation, and overall performance history. The Concert Band performs multiple concerts throughout the year and may or may not compete in UIL Concert and Sight-reading Contest. Additional performances may include festivals or contests, pep rallies, and ceremonies.

Performance requirements include:

• Members are required to participate in Solo and Ensemble contest.
• Members are encouraged to participate in All-District  and All-Region tryouts.
• Sectionals will be held all year and are mandatory.
• Concert Band students will be expected to participate in some after school full band rehearsals.

Beginner Band 

The Beginner Band is comprised of students who are in the first year of starting their instrument. They will perform multiple concerts throughout the year. Additional performances may include festivals  and or contest.

 Performance requirements include:

• Members are required to participate in the Beginner Solo and Ensemble Contest in the spring.
• Beginning Band students will be expected to participate in some after school full band rehearsals.

Band Handbook

This course, offered to sixth and seventh grade students, develops skills in the following areas: 

• Leadership 
• Professional and business skills 
• Self-concept 
• Healthy relationships 
• Personal responsibility 
• Emotional intelligence 
• Public speaking and communication

Beginning Mariachi

 This guitar class is for beginners with no previous experience playing guitar. Students will learn the basic skills and information required for playing guitar, as well as music theory, mariachi history and how to sing in Spanish while playing guitar. Mariachi students will perform simple songs, take field trips to hear live music, and will perform on the Winter Concert in December and the Spring Concert in May. Students can rent an instrument (approx. $75) or provide their own classical guitar. They will also buy a music book and t-shirt to keep (approx. $35). These classes are a great way to learn to play an instrument, read music, sing and prepare for Advanced Mariachi. Students will be graded on class participation and attendance at all required rehearsals and performances, as well as their playing ability. Fine Arts credit is awarded after successfully completing the class.

Prerequisite: Audition

Advanced Mariachi

This class is by audition only and is intended for experienced musicians who sing and play violin, trumpet, vihuela, guitarrón or guitar. Advanced students will learn to perform a range of mariachi music including standard songs and newer hits by popular singers like Vicente Fernandez. Advanced students are required to attend many performances and rehearsals throughout the year. They will also take field trips to hear live music, and in addition to performing at UIL Festivals and on the Winter Concert in December and the Spring Concert in May they will also be required to perform several times in the community and at festivals in the evenings & on weekends. Students can rent an instrument (approx. $75) or provide their own. Trajes, sombreros and belts will be provided by GPISD for high school students; students are required to buy their own mariachi t-shirt, shirt/blouse, moño (plus hair bow for ladies), and boots for the full mariachi traje (approx. $100). Students will be graded on class participation and their playing ability as well as their attendance at all required performances and rehearsals. Fine Arts credit is awarded after successfully completing the class, and additional Fine Arts or elective credit is awarded for repeating the class.

Beginning Orchestra

This course is for beginning orchestra students. Emphasis will be placed on learning the basics of playing the violin, viola, cello and bass. Students will be taught practice skills as well as how to read music. Students will be required to have an instrument for this class. There is an instrument rental fee for use of school instruments. Financial aid is available to qualified students.

This class is a prerequisite for Advanced Orchestra. Grades 6-7 may take this course.

Advanced Orchestra

This course extends and reinforces what is presented in Beginning Orchestra. Emphasis will be on developing higher performance techniques. Students are required to perform in concerts given by the Orchestra and participate in UIL competition. There is an instrument rental fee for use of school instruments. Financial aid is available to qualified students. Grade 7-8 may take this course

Prerequisite: Beginning Orchestra

Student Concert Etiquette
Concert Etiquette Quiz
Adult Concert Etiquette

SPANISH IA (High School Credit Course)

This full-year course introduces students to Spanish vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, basic dialogues, and basic sentence patterns. Through various classroom activities, students observe and experience Spanish culture. Spanish IA followed with Spanish IB in a subsequent middle school year will earn one high school credit for Spanish I. Students will receive .5 credit upon completion of Spanish IA. High school grading procedures will apply to these courses.

Prerequisite: Student Interest

SPANISH IB (High School Credit Course)

This full-year course is a continuation of Spanish IA. Skills and concepts in listening, speaking, reading, and writing are stressed; however, major emphasis is given to oral communication. Upon successful completion of both Spanish IA and Spanish IB, students will receive one high school credit for Spanish I. Students will receive .5 credit upon completion of Spanish IB. High school grading procedures will apply to these courses.

Prerequisite: Spanish IA

SPANISH I (High School Credit Course)

This full-year course introduces students to Spanish vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, basic dialogues, and basic sentence patterns. Audio-lingual materials aid in the development of communication skills. Through various classroom activities, students observe and experience Spanish culture. Skills and concepts in listening, speaking, reading, and writing are stressed; however, major emphasis is given to oral communication. This course is designed for students with some conversational Spanish. High school grading procedures will apply to these courses.

Prerequisite: Advanced Foreign Language Proficiency Assessment

SPANISH II (High School Credit Course)

This full-year course emphasizes oral comprehension and reading skills, and students expand their fluency in Spanish. Grammar, vocabulary, literature, and cultural studies are included. Skills in listening, speaking, and writing are also stressed; however, major emphasis is given to oral communication. High school grading procedures will apply to these courses.

Prerequisite: Spanish I or Advanced Foreign Language Proficiency Assessment

PRE-AP SPANISH III (High School Credit Course)

This course covers the high school Spanish III TEKS. In this high school level TEKS-based Spanish course, students undertake grammar and vocabulary studies, enhance aural comprehension as well as oral and written proficiency, and explore Hispanic culture, particularly in the areas of art, music, history, and geography. Classic and contemporary literatures are studied. High school grading procedures will apply to these courses. Students and parents will be required to sign and abide by the Grand Prairie ISD Pre-AP/AP Contract. (See appendix)

Prerequisite: Spanish II or Advanced Foreign Language Proficiency Assessment AP

SPANISH IV (High School Credit Course)

This course covers the high school Spanish IV TEKS. This intensive high school level TEKS-based course is designed to prepare students for the Advanced Placement Spanish Language Exam. This class will include a thorough grammar review; refine aural and oral proficiency; daily discussions of various cultural readings, literature or current topics; weekly compositions; and research papers. Students are required to take the AP exam. High school grading procedures will apply to these courses. Students and parents will be required to sign and abide by the Grand Prairie ISD Pre-AP/AP Contract. (See appendix)

Prerequisite: Pre-AP Spanish III or Advanced Foreign Language Proficiency Assessment