JPIIHS 2013-14 Course Guide - John Paul II HS

SUBSTITUTIONS FOR PE CREDIT
Participation in the following programs qualifies as a class to meet the school’s PE requirement: Athletics, Drill Team, Cheerleading,
Dance, and the fall semester of Marching Band. With the permission of the Director of Athletics, off campus athletic programs meeting
specific demanding criteria can be scheduled into the class schedule and earn PE credit.
THE HONORS PROGRAM: PRE-AP AND ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES
The Advanced Placement (AP) Program offers students the opportunity to pursue college-level studies while still in high school and
potentially earn college credit. AP courses challenge students and ease the transition to college. John Paul II High School offers multiple
Pre-AP and AP courses. We encourage all students to consider participation in one or more of these academically challenging courses.
There are set guidelines and requirements for enrollment in these courses including previous academic performance, successful
completion of designated pre-requisite courses, ISEE and standardized test scores, and instructor recommendations. Honors courses in
Foreign Language and in the Performing and Creative Arts are determined through auditions, reviewed work, and accomplishments in
prior classes. Students will be invited to participate by the individual instructor. Students must maintain a passing average to remain in
Pre-AP or AP courses. In comparison to traditional course work, AP courses take a more challenging approach and demand a higher
level of performance by high school students. Advance Placement exams are given in May. By earning the score designated by individual
universities, a student can earn college credit, therefore, saving both time and money during post-secondary studies. Students are
required to take the AP Exam.
The instructor of the Pre-AP or AP course, the respective department chair, the Director of Guidance and Counseling, and the Dean of
Educational Operations may collectively waive entrance requirements for participation and admit a student to a Pre-AP or AP class on a
provisional basis after a meeting with both the student and parent(s). Continued participation will depend on completion of class work
and earning a passing grade.
EXAMS FOR PLACEMENT IN MATHEMATICS AND FOREIGN LANGUAGE
John Paul II High School will administer placement exams to incoming ninth graders who wish to take Geometry their freshman year.
This exam will be administered on specific dates in the spring and summer preceding the student’s freshman year. Interested parents
should contact the department chairpersons or Director of Guidance and Counseling for specific information and dates. Based on
student performance on the exam, the school will determine student placement in mathematics. Incoming freshman who have two years
of a prior foreign language will be placed in Pre-AP I and those who have no formal foreign language will be placed in CP I. At the end
of the first three weeks of school, students wishing to be moved to the second year will need to request a placement test and receive a
passing score to move up a level.
Incoming transfer students who are 10 th -12 th grades will be placed in the next level according to the transcript. Placement tests will be
available on Monday, August 13, at the end of the school day for those students who would like to finalize their placement.
CORRESPONDENCE CLASSES
Students enrolled in John Paul II High School may earn credit for non-core courses through correspondence via Texas Tech University
or through e-school via Plano Independent School District. Students should contact their respective counselor for more information
and specific requirements. The student must pay for the cost of the course. Correspondence and e-school courses will not earn grade
points.
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Course Guide
Updated July 2013