Advanced Academics
Announcements
The drop window for Advanced, AP, and IB classes is open. The drop deadline for courses that do not have a level equivalent is August 22nd. The drop deadline for all other Advanced, AP, and IB classes is August 31st. Drop forms may be picked up at the counselor’s office. If you have any questions, please ask your teacher or contact Mr. Parsons.
At Magnolia High School, we take pride in having a variety of robust advanced academic offerings through Advanced, Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), and Dual Credit (DC) courses.
Advanced Courses:
Advanced courses largely take place in the 9th and 10th grade. Their intent is to prepare a student to take AP, IB and DC through an enriched, challenging curriculum. Advanced courses are available in the subject area of English, Science, Mathematics, and Spanish.
Advanced Placement:
AP courses largely take place in the 11th and 12th grade; the district offers AP Human Geography in the 9th grade and AP World History in the 10th grade. AP courses are designed as stand-alone courses with an in-depth focus on a particular subject area, preparing a student for success in that subject at the university level. In May, a student must sit for the comprehensive AP exam in their subject area. Scoring a 3 or higher on an AP exam should result in college credit.
International Baccalaureate:
IB courses take place in the 11th and 12th grade. The IB program is a rigorous college preparatory curriculum that provides a comprehensive sciences and liberal arts program of study for highly motivated juniors and seniors. The IB Diploma serves as a strong indicator of student performance and success in college and is highly prized by leading universities in the United States and across the globe. A student must sit for the comprehensive IB exams in the subject areas at the completion of the course. Scoring a 4 or higher on an IB exam should result in college credit. Please see our IB page for further information
Dual Credit:
DC courses take place in the 11th and 12th grade. DC courses are Lone Star College courses offered on the Magnolia High School Campus. Students must take the TSI assessment and enroll as a student at Lone Star College. This is facilitated by our College and Career Center. Lone Star awards credit based on a student’s performance in the class.
Staff:
Derek Parsons
Dean of Advanced Academics
dparsons@magnoliaisd.org
Policies that apply specifically to all Advanced, AP, and IB students.
9th and 10th Grade Magnolia ISD Advanced Academics Honor Code
Purpose
The advanced academics programs at Magnolia ISD High Schools (MHS, MWHS) seek to create an environment where academic integrity is celebrated and embraced. Part of this process is to ensure that student's original, authentic work and hard-earned achievements are given their proper due. It is the responsibility of every student, parent, teacher, and administrator to uphold, encourage, and promote the high expectations of academic integrity. In presenting a code of conduct based on individual integrity and ethics, we aim to create a vision of what we would like our community to be. We intend to reduce the level of unhealthy competition in the school by shifting peer pressure away from cheating toward ethical behavior. Academic honesty and integrity are essential to the existence and growth of any academic community.
It is important to promote academic honesty because the lack of academic integrity undermines the philosophy of any educational program. Additionally, in our current context, intellectual property borders have blurred and it is exceptionally easy for a student to present information/research as their own work. This is detrimental to the student in that it robs them of the educational process intended for the assignment and harms their personal integrity.
Definition of Malpractice
This document defines malpractice as behavior that results in or may result in, the student or any other student gaining an unfair advantage in one or more assignments, formative or summative. Malpractice includes but is not limited to:
-
Plagiarism
-
Unauthorized collusion
-
Unauthorized use of artificial intelligence
-
Possession, use, or attempted use of unauthorized materials in an examination setting
-
Stealing examination materials
-
Copying the work of another student or allowing work to be copied by another student
-
Duplication of work and/or research submitted for different assignments
-
Fabrication of data
-
Sharing information related to an examination with other students
Magnolia ISD Academic Honor Board
In order to promote an atmosphere of academic integrity in the MHS/MWHS advanced academics programs, an Honor Board will be established at each respective high school. Members of the Honor Board will be appointed by the high school’s Dean of Advanced Academics and will be tasked with overseeing the Honor Code for the high school. The Honor Board will consist of selected members of the MHS/MWHS faculty and anyone else the Dean of Advanced Academics deems appropriate.
Enforcement of the Academic Honor Code
All students in the 9th or 10th grade in an Advanced or AP course are subject to the Honor Code. If an instance of academic dishonesty or suspected academic dishonesty has occurred, or furthermore a student admits to academic dishonesty the teacher involved will report the situation and an Honor Board will ensue. Honor Board proceedings are as such:
1. First Offense
● A report of the incident is submitted to the Honor Board. The student’s parent or guardian is informed of the incident.
● The student will appear before the Honor Board where they will be presented with the evidence of malpractice and given an opportunity to respond.
● If the Honor Board determines that malpractice has occurred, the student will be given a zero on the assignment in question and be placed on academic probation for violation of the Advanced Academics Honor Code. The student will sign a probationary contract and will remain on Academic Probation until the end of their 10th grade year.
● The student will write a two-page personal response focusing on the importance of ethics and character. The student's personal response will be submitted to the HONOR BOARD within two school days of being placed on academic probation.
2. An offense committed while on Academic Probation
● A report of the incident is submitted to the Honor Board. The student’s parent or guardian is informed of the incident.
● The student will appear before the Honor Board where they will be presented with the evidence of malpractice and given the opportunity to respond.
● If the Honor Board determines malpractice has occurred, the student will be deemed in violation of the conditions of academic probation.
● Consequences for committing malpractice while on academic probation will be determined by the members of the Honor Board in conjunction with the designated campus administrator and will result in one or more of the following:
○ The student may receive a grade of zero on the assignment in question.
○ The student may be ineligible to complete an advanced course(s) or exam(s). The student will be responsible for reimbursing the school for any registration or examination expenses incurred by the district on behalf of the student in an instance where the student is ruled ineligible.
○ National Honor Society (NHS) may be notified.
○ Extra-curricular activity coordinator/coach may be notified.
○ The student may be ineligible to apply as a candidate for an International Baccalaureate Diploma or Certificate.
○ The student may receive a failing grade for the course in question.
○ The student may be removed from the advanced academics program as a whole.
○ The student may be suspended from school.
3. Appeals Process
Decisions of the Honor Board may be appealed to the Associate Principal. The appeal must be made within 3 school days of the Honor Board decision. The appeal may be in the form of an email, a formal letter or a phone call.
The Associate Principal’s decision may be appealed to the Director of Advanced Academics at the District Level. The appeal must be made within 3 school days of the Associate Principal’s decision.
Portions of this document are based on information from the International Baccalaureate Organization’s publication Principles to Practice (2014), Academic Honesty in the IB Educational Context (2014), and the Honor Code policies of Plano East Senior High School (Plano, TX), Temple High School (Temple, TX), and Troy High School (Fullerton, CA).
11th and 12th Grade Magnolia ISD Advanced Academics (AP/IB) Honor Code
Purpose
The advanced academics programs at Magnolia ISD High Schools (MHS, MWHS) seek to create an environment where academic integrity is celebrated and embraced. Part of this process is to ensure that student's original, authentic work and hard-earned achievements are given their proper due. It is the responsibility of every student, parent, teacher, and administrator to uphold, encourage, and promote the high expectations of academic integrity. In presenting a code of conduct based on individual integrity and ethics, we aim to create a vision of what we would like our community to be. We intend to reduce the level of unhealthy competition in the school by shifting peer pressure away from cheating toward ethical behavior. Academic honesty and integrity are essential to the existence and growth of any academic community.
It is important to promote academic honesty because the lack of academic integrity undermines the philosophy of any educational program. Additionally, in our current context, intellectual property borders have blurred and it is exceptionally easy for a student to present information/research as their own work. This is detrimental to the student in that it robs them of the educational process intended for the assignment and harms their personal integrity.
Definition of Malpractice
This document defines malpractice as behavior that results in or may result in, the student or any other student gaining an unfair advantage in one or more assignments, formative or summative. Malpractice includes but is not limited to:
-
Plagiarism
-
Unauthorized collusion
-
Unauthorized use of artificial intelligence
-
Possession, use, or attempted use of unauthorized materials in an examination setting
-
Stealing examination materials
-
Copying the work of another student or allowing work to be copied by another student
-
Duplication of work and/or research submitted for different assignments
-
Fabrication of data
-
Sharing information related to an examination with other students
Magnolia ISD Academic Honor Board
In order to promote an atmosphere of academic integrity in the MHS/MWHS advanced academics programs, an Honor Board will be established at each respective high school. Members of the Honor Board will be appointed by the high school’s Dean of Advanced Academics and will be tasked with overseeing the Honor Code for the high school. The Honor Board will consist of selected members of the MHS/MWHS faculty and anyone else the Associate Principal deems appropriate.
Enforcement of the Academic Honor Code
All students in the 11th or 12th grade in an Advanced, AP, or IB course are subject to the Honor Code. If an instance of academic dishonesty or suspected academic dishonesty has occurred, or furthermore a student admits to academic dishonesty the teacher involved will report the situation and an Honor Board will ensue. Honor Board proceedings are as such:
1. First Offense
● A report of the incident is submitted to the Honor Board. The student’s parent or guardian is informed of the incident.
● The student will appear before the Honor Board where they will be presented with the evidence of malpractice and given an opportunity to respond.
● If the Honor Board determines that malpractice has occurred, the student will be given a zero on the assignment in question and be placed on academic probation for violation of the AP/IB Academic Honor Code. The student will sign a probationary contract and will remain on Academic Probation until graduation.
● The student will write a two-page personal response focusing on the importance of ethics and character. The student's personal response will be submitted to the HONOR BOARD within two school days of being placed on academic probation.
2. An offense committed while on Academic Probation
● A report of the incident is submitted to the Honor Board. The student’s parent or guardian is informed of the incident.
● The student will appear before the Honor Board where they will be presented with the evidence of malpractice and given the opportunity to respond.
● If the Honor Board determines malpractice has occurred, the student will be deemed in violation of the conditions of academic probation.
● Consequences for committing malpractice while on academic probation will be determined by the members of the Honor Board in conjunction with the designated campus administrator and will result in one or more of the following:
○ The student may receive a grade of zero on the assignment in question.
○ The student may be ineligible to complete an advanced course(s) or exam(s). The student will be responsible for reimbursing the school for any registration or examination expenses incurred by the district on behalf of the student in an instance where the student is ruled ineligible.
○ National Honor Society (NHS) may be notified.
○ Extra-curricular activity coordinator/coach may be notified.
○ The student may be ineligible to continue as a candidate for an International Baccalaureate Diploma or Certificate.
○ The student may receive a failing grade for the course in question.
○ The student may be removed from the advanced academics program as a whole.
○ The student may be suspended from school.
3. Appeals Process
Decisions of the Honor Board may be appealed to the Associate Principal. The appeal must be made within 3 school days of the Honor Board decision. The appeal may be in the form of an email, a formal letter or a phone call.
The Associate Principal’s decision may be appealed to the Director of Advanced Academics at the District Level. The appeal must be made within 3 school days of the Associate Principal’s decision.
Portions of this document are based on information from the International Baccalaureate Organization’s publication Principles to Practice (2014), Academic Honesty in the IB Educational Context (2014), and the Honor Code policies of Plano East Senior High School (Plano, TX), Temple High School (Temple, TX), and Troy High School (Fullerton, CA).
Course Procedure for Advanced Classes
All students registered for Advanced Academics classes do so with the intent on pursuing one of our Advanced Academics programs: AP--Advanced Placement; DC--Dual Credit through Lone Star--Montgomery; IB--International Baccalaureate. These students usually read on or above grade level, ideally score Meets or Masters on State Assessments and are High Achievers--they want to perform well on assessments, projects, and assignments and are also willing to put forth extra effort on these assignments. These students are also independent learners who demonstrate a hunger for knowledge.
These courses are designed to prepare students for the academic challenges that lie ahead in any of our Advanced Academics course offerings for potential college credit. As a result, students may find themselves struggling more than expected and may potentially risk losing credit.
In order to ensure a student has an opportunity to gain credit for the course, if a student earns a failing (below 70) Fall Semester Average in an Advanced Academics class, the student will be placed in an on-level course at semester to provide an opportunity to gain credit towards graduation.
Course Procedure for AP/IB Classes
All students registered for AP and/or IB classes do so with the intent on sitting for the appropriate AP exam and fulfilling all assessments, both IAs and EAs in IB coursework. These students usually read on or above grade level, ideally score Meets or Masters on State Assessments and are High Achievers--they want to perform well on assessments, projects, and assignments and are also willing to put forth extra effort on these assignments. These students are also independent learners who demonstrate a hunger for knowledge.
These courses are designed to prepare students for success on the specific course assessments that lie ahead in order to gain college credit. As a result, students may find themselves struggling more than expected and may potentially risk losing high school credit.
In order to ensure a student has an opportunity to gain credit for the specific course, if a student earns a failing (below 70) Fall Semester Average in an AP or IB class, the student will be placed in an on-level course at semester to provide an opportunity to gain credit towards graduation. The student will be ineligible to sit for an AP/IB examination in that subject area.