2013-14 Guide for Academics and Student Life - Tampa Preparatory ...

ACADEMIC INFORMATION AND POLICIES3. School Counselor (as needed) and4. TeachersACADEMIC POLICY FOR SUSPENDED STUDENTS1. Suspended students must make up all academic workmissed while serving the suspension;2. Teachers must give that work full academic credit;3. Students suspended for academic honor violationswill receive a one grade level drop in all classes for theirpre-exam average (i.e B to B-).ACADEMIC LEVELS OF COURSESCOLLEGE PREP COURSESSelected courses at Tampa Prep are taught at the College Preplevel. These classes prepare students for college courseworkwhile reducing the pace and rigor of the topics covered.HONORS COURSESMost classes at Tampa Prep are taught at an honors levelappropriate to the grade or level of the course.ADVANCED HONORS COURSESAdvanced Algebra 2, Advanced Precalculus, Calculus,Chemistry 2, Physics 2, Advanced Spanish 3, Spanish 4 andFrench 4 are designated as “Advanced Honors” classes andrequire academic dedication beyond those necessary forsuccess at the Honors level. (Revised 7-13)ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSESTampa Prep offers a wide selection of Advanced Placementcourses for students who wish to engage in college-levelstudy while still in high school. These courses demand time,study, and specialized abilities above the normal rigors of theSchool’s other classes. Therefore, students wishing to enrollin more than three AP courses for any one year must obtainpermission from the Upper School Director.Admission to AP classes requires the permission of thecourses’ instructors, who base their decisions on teacherrecommendations and past academic performances in therelevant discipline. The Upper School Director has the finalsay in all AP placements.AP STUDENT QUALIFICATIONSStrong candidates for AP courses typically possess thefollowing qualities:Intellectual interest. Strong AP candidates display anintellectual curiosity and motivation for the subject matterof the course beyond merely meeting grade requirements.Strong skills. Strong AP candidates should not requirebasic level work in reading, writing, vocabulary, orcomputation. AP courses focus on subject matter andhigher level skills.Developed capacity for abstract thinking. Strong APcandidates should be able to move beyond the literalor concrete level of thinking and reading to cope withabstraction, implication, discovery, metaphor, irony,and similar secondary levels of meaning. Strong APcandidates should be able to analyze coherently and todraw supportable conclusions from facts and data.AP teachers require prospective students to indicate writteninterest in taking future AP courses. While teachers may useslightly different methods for determining an AP class roster,using the parameters listed above, these teachers generallyconsult with colleagues, refer to student transcripts and mayeven speak with students before making decisions on coursesuitability.AP EXAM POLICYFaculty have the prerogative to admit students selectivelyinto AP classes based on prior academic performance and“honors attitude.” Therefore, each teacher establishes his/her own policy as to whether students must take the CollegeBoard’s Advanced Placement exam. All AP students whomaintain at least a B- average in the AP course, who miss nomore than eight of the AP course’s second semester classes,and who take the College Board AP exam, are exempt fromthe course’s final exam.If a student does not take an AP exam for a course thatmandates the taking of the exam, then the student will berequired to take an alternative assessment as deemed bythe instructor. While it is suggested that the alternativeassessment be a final exam, if it is not, then the assessmentmust be comparable in nature to a final exam.If a student is taking an AP exam, he/she may be excusedfrom classes (or internship) on the half-day prior to theexam. Arrangements to make up missed work must be madein advance with the teachers whose classes are missed.Students who take an exam in the morning are expected toattend afternoon classes (or internship).Students who are taking an AP exam but are not enrolled inthat exam’s AP class must take the final exam for their non-APcourse, unless they are second semester juniors with a gradeof A+. (see Exemption from Exams Policy)OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACCELERATED STUDYCRITERIA TO ADVANCE TO PRE-ALGEBRA IN THE SIXTH GRADEA student who would like to be considered for advancementmust: achieve an ERB Percentile of 90% in QuantitativeReasoning and Mathematics 1 & 2 using the IndependentNorms; maintain a mathematics average of A+ during thecurrent year; receive the recommendation of all currentteachers; maintain exemplary grades in all classes; completethe Pre-Algebra Placement Test with a score no lower than aB+; meet with a Middle School member of the MathematicsDepartment to discuss long range goals in mathematics; andgain approval of Middle School Director and MathematicsDepartment Chair.GUIDE FOR ACADEMICS AND STUDENT LIFE | 17