Allen High School offers approximately 28 Advanced Placement (AP) courses. The Advanced Placement Program is directed by the College Board and allows students to take college-level coursework while still in high school. The College Board develops the scope and sequence of AP courses and provides training for teachers. The examination for each course is based on a national standard, and qualifying assessment scores may be used by colleges and universities to grant credits. Many colleges and universities consider students that take AP courses to be better prepared for the rigor of college courses. More than 65 percent of AISD secondary students participate in one or more advanced courses.

Courses designated as AP provide the same level of rigor as college-level courses. Students should expect course subject matter and workload at a college level. Students enrolled in an AP course are expected to take the corresponding AP exam from the College Board at the end of the year. Ninth graders may visit the Lowery Freshman Center Advanced Academics page for more information. Please visit the Allen High School Advanced Academics page for more information.

Allen High School is an authorized school for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, a rigorous pre-university course of study for the academically advanced and highly motivated student.

Designed and administered by the IB office in Cardiff, Wales, the program encompasses internationally-based standards of achievement. The curriculum is designed to provide a broad liberal arts experience for the college-bound student. Each student will become proficient in language and mathematical studies, and participate in an in-depth exploration of the study of human behavior and the process of educational inquiry. The program is designed to provide the student with a well-rounded, high-level academic course of study emphasizing the development of the “whole person.” 

Successful completion of the coursework and examinations at the junior/senior level may earn students credit or advanced placement at colleges and universities around the world.

Please visit Allen High School International Baccalaureate website for further information.

• 2023 IB Parent Presentation Slides

For more information on the ACT and SAT in Allen ISD, please visit the AHS Assessment Page

As part of the College Board College and Career Pathway, all Allen ISD 10th and 11th graders participate in PSAT School Day each fall.

The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), co-sponsored by the College Board and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, is an important first step towards college. Test results and their accompanying analysis are valuable tools that can help prepare students for the SAT® and education opportunities beyond high school.

Each year, more than 3.5 million high school juniors, sophomores, and younger students take the PSAT/NMSQT to:

• Prepare for the SAT
• Enter competitions for scholarships: For more information, go to College Board Scholarship and Recognition or visit National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
• Receive information from colleges: For more information, go to Student Search Service® (SSS®).
• Begin college and career planning
• Help assess the academic skills necessary for college-level coursework
• Inside the PSAT

• Advanced Academics Information Presentation
• Middle School Parent Advanced Academics FAQ
• Advanced Academics Flyer

The advanced math sequence begins in 6th grade. The name of the course is Math 6 Advanced to reflect alignment with secondary coursework and programming. Math 6 Advanced is designed to allow for a deep exploration of grade-level TEKS and coursework, and prepare students for advanced math at the secondary level.  While this course is not accelerated, it does provide options for differentiation of the 6th-grade math curriculum to include greater depth and complexity and tight alignment with secondary Advanced coursework.

• 4th grade STAAR Masters
• 5th math first-semester grade greater than or equal to 90%
• 5th-grade math STAAR masters level score and/or 5th grade MAP MOY masters STAAR projection level score

Any student who did not meet the criteria for Math 6 Advanced will be re-evaluated during the summer. There is no need to request evaluation or submit additional data. During summer evaluation, a student qualifies by meeting at least two of the four district criteria for placement:

• 4th-grade STAAR Masters
• 5th math first semester and/or second semester  grade greater than or equal to 90% 
• 5th grade MAP middle of year (MOY) STAAR projection of Masters
• 5th-grade math STAAR Masters and/or 5th grade MAP end of year EOY STAAR projection of Masters

Families of students who qualify for Math 6 Advanced are notified at the beginning of August. Qualification for Math 6 Advanced does not guarantee, nor does it eliminate the possibility of, qualification for Math 7 Advanced.  If a student does not qualify for Math 6 Advanced, they will be re-evaluated in the spring of their 6th-grade year to determine if they qualify for Math 7 Advanced.

English, Social Studies, & Science

English 7 Advanced, Social Studies 7 Advanced, and Science 7 Advanced are open-enrollment courses.  Students may self-select these options when making their course selections. 

Math

Students must qualify for enrollment in Math 7 Advanced. 

In late Spring, all current 6th-grade students are evaluated to qualify for participation in Math 7 Advanced. There is no need to request evaluation or submit additional data. A student may qualify by meeting at least two of these three district criteria: 

• 5th-grade STAAR Masters
• 6th- grade math first-semester grade greater than or equal to 90% 
• 6th grade MAP middle of year (MOY) exam Masters

Qualifying students are placed in Math 7 Advanced.  This will be reflected in the student’s course selection preview through Skyward in May.

Any student who did not meet the criteria for Math 7 Advanced will be re-evaluated during the summer. There is no need to request evaluation or submit additional data. During summer evaluation, a student qualifies by meeting at least two of the four district criteria for placement:

• 5th-grade STAAR Masters
• 6th- grade math first-semester and/or second-semester grade greater than or equal to 90% 
• 6th grade MAP middle of year (MOY) exam Masters
• 6th STAAR Masters and/or EOY MAP Masters

Students qualifying for Math 7 Advanced based on summer evaluation are placed in Math 7 Advanced. This will be reflected in the student’s course schedule through Skyward in August.

English, Social Studies, & Science

English 8 Advanced, Social Studies 8 Advanced, and Science 8 Advanced are open enrollment courses. Students may self-select these options when making their course selections.

Math

All current Math 7 Advanced students who complete the course will be eligible for Algebra I Advanced for the following school year.

Current Math 7 students may participate in Math 8 boot camp during the summer of 2023. Students who attend Math 8 boot camp have the opportunity to take a Credit by Examination (CBE) for Math 8 credit. Students who successfully pass the CBE may take Algebra I in 8th grade. Participation in the Math 8 boot camp does not guarantee that a student will earn a requisite CBE score to enroll in Algebra I. Ideal candidates for participation in Math 8 boot camp meet at least two of the three criteria listed below:

• 6th grade math STAAR performance level of Masters
• 7th grade math first-semester grade greater than or equal to 90%
• 7th grade MAP middle of year (MOY) STAAR projection of Masters

Students must have an 85 semester average in both English 7 and Math 7 for placement.  Students who did not qualify based upon first semester averages may request to the campus counselor’s office for a re-evaluation, which will include the final average at the end of the year. 

The district engages in continual progress monitoring of students’ math coursework in order to provide multiple opportunities for participation in Advanced Math classes. Should your student meet the criteria at any point to participate in Advanced Math classes during grades 7 and 8, parents or guardians will be notified via Skyward Messenger. Placement will be noted on the student's schedule, available in August during the back-to-school week. 

Incoming 8th students who requested a re-evaluation for Languages Other Than English (LOTE) will be reviewed for re-evaluation after the close of school. Placement will be noted on the student's schedule available in August during the back-to-school week.