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A challenging curriculum and dedicated teachers help Academy students reach their highest potential.
Courses Offered
English Department
ENGLISH 8 is designed for our eighth grade students who have not had English I. It consists of a genre-based study of literature and an extensive review of the fundamentals of grammar usage and mechanics. Students will learn the organization and development of various types of paragraphs. Vocabulary development is included to enhance reading comprehension and test scores. Novels and a workbook are to be purchased. There will be a course fee. Prerequisite: None
READING I is a year-long course required of selected freshmen. Reading comprehension skills including main idea, author’s intent, drawing conclusions, making inferences, and recognizing theme will be emphasized with special emphasis on critical thinking and test taking skills. A workbook and novels will be purchased. There will be a course fee. Prerequisite: Placement based on entrance test results and elementary academic records.
ENGLISH I is designed as an introduction to genre-based literature, grammar, and vocabulary on the high school level. This course begins with the introduction of the multi paragraph essay and progresses to research based writing. Grammar skills are extensively reviewed to prepare for standardized testing. Vocabulary development is included to enhance reading comprehension and test scores. Novels and a workbook are to be purchased. There will be a course fee. Prerequisite: None
ENGLISH I-HONORS is designed for the more advanced student. It is a genre-based literature course combined with a comprehensive review of grammar and composition skills. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking, test preparation, and vocabulary development. Additional readings and projects are required. Novels and a workbook are to be purchased. There will be a course fee. Prerequisite: Placement is based on entrance test results and elementary academic records. AOL eighth graders must have an “A” in each semester of English 8
ENGLISH II is designed for students who have completed English I or I-Honors. It consists of a study of American Literature. This course includes the development of multi-paragraph essays and research assignments. Grammar skills are reinforced to achieve proficiency in writing and standardized test scores. Vocabulary development is included to enhance reading comprehension and test scores. Novels and a workbook are to be purchased. There will be a course fee. Prerequisite: English I
ENGLISH II-HONORS is designed for the more advanced student. It is an American literature survey course combined with a brief review of grammar and more advanced composition skills. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking, test preparation, and vocabulary development. Additional readings and projects are required. Novels and a workbook are to be purchased. There will be a course fee. Prerequisite: “B” in each semester of English I-H or “A” in each semester of English I
ENGLISH III is designed for students who have completed English II or II-Honors. It consists of a study of British literature. This course continues the development of a formal multi-paragraph essay concluding with a formal research paper. There is a review of grammar and rhetorical skills in preparation for standardized testing. Vocabulary development is included to enhance reading comprehension and test scores. Novels and a workbook are to be purchased. There will be a course fee. Prerequisite: English I and II
ENGLISH III-HONORS is designed for the more advanced student. It is a British literature survey course combined with a topical review of grammar and more complex composition skills, including a formal research paper. Emphasis is placed on analytical skills, increased test preparation, and vocabulary development. Additional readings and projects are required. Novels and a workbook must be purchased. There will be a course fee. Prerequisite: “B” in each semester of English I-H and II-H or “A” in each semester of English I and II
AP ENGLISH III is the AP English Language and Composition class open to approved sophomores and juniors who will take the AP exam in Language and Composition. Students learn the key elements of rhetoric including the rhetorical triangle of ethos-logos-pathos. They discover methods of improving their close reading skills, including the use of annotation and graphic organizers. They are introduced to the synthesis essay and given examples of the types of sources used and tips on how to effectively use these sources. Students will analyze writing styles of various authors and use the techniques they have learned to improve their own writing. A fee of approximately $85 will be charged for the AP exam. The school may offer this course through the La. Virtual School under the guidance of an English teacher. There will be a course fee. Prerequisite: “B” in each semester of English I-H, and II-H, or “A” in each semester of English I and II, and Department Head approval based on standardized test scores
ENGLISH IV is designed for students who have completed English III or III-Honors. It consists of a study of classical world literature. This course also focuses on the mastery of multi-page essays and a formal research paper. Grammar and rhetorical skills are incorporated into writing assignments and standardized test preparation. Vocabulary development is included to enhance reading comprehension and test scores. Novels and a workbook are to be purchased. There will be a course fee. Prerequisite: English I, II, and III
ENGLISH IV-HONORS is designed for the more advanced student. It is a survey course focusing on classical world literature combined with a relevant review of grammar and college preparatory composition skills, including the formal research paper. Emphasis is placed on analytical skills, test preparation, and vocabulary development. Additional readings and projects are required. Novels and a workbook are to be purchased. There will be a course fee. Prerequisite: “B” in each semester of English I-H, II-H, and III-H or “A” in each semester of English I, II, and III
AP ENGLISH IV is the AP English Literature and Composition class open to those students who will take the AP exam in Literature and Composition. It is designed to teach students how to understand and write about literature at the college level. Through close reading and analysis of a selection of texts, students will gain an understanding of and appreciation for a writer’s use of literary conventions. They will also study biographical information about the author’s work. Students will recognize literature as a tool for expressing thoughts, emotions, and ideas. Additional materials such as videos, audio recordings, and primary documents will broaden the scope of the work, enhancing its value beyond its pages, providing students an opportunity to synthesize the materials as they experience, interpret, and analyze each text. A variety of writing assignments will assess how well students interpret the works of various authors of non-fiction, fiction, drama, and poetry. By creating an assortment of original works, students will recognize the value of word choice, diction, and style in their own literary creations. Exercises in grammar and vocabulary will help to develop each student's writing style. A fee of approximately $85 will be charged for the AP exam. The school may offer this course through the La. Virtual School under the guidance of an English teacher. If students select to take this course for Dual Enrollment, a fee of $300 must be paid to the university. There will be a course fee. Prerequisite: “B” in each semester of English I-H, II-H, and III-H or “A” in each semester of English I, II, and III and Department Head approval based on standardized test scores
ENGLISH V is designed for students who have completed English IV. It consists of a study of contemporary world literature. This course also encompasses a college preparatory writing program and a formal research paper. Critical and analytical thinking skills are emphasized. Vocabulary development is addressed through the literature. Novels and a workbook are to be purchased. Prerequisite: English I, II, III, and IV
ENGLISH V HONORS is designed for advanced student. It is a survey course focusing on contemporary world literature combined with a relevant review of grammar and college preparatory composition skills. Emphasis is placed on analysis, synthesis, test preparation, and vocabulary development. Additional readings and projects are required. Novels and a workbook are to be purchased. Prerequisites: “B” in each semester of English I-H, II-H, III-H, and IV-H or “A” in each semester of English I, II, III, and IV
PUBLICATIONS I: YEARBOOK introduces the student to the fundamentals of journalistic procedures as they apply to yearbook production. Included are photography, writing, editing, design, and graphics. The student will apply this knowledge to produce the Academy yearbook. Students may be required on infrequent occasions to attend an after-school event in order to take photographs and gather information for the yearbook. This course will be open to approved juniors and seniors with above average writing ability. Prerequisite: Teacher approval
PUBLICATIONS II: YEARBOOK refines the skills learned in Publications I: Yearbook. The student accepts the responsibility to plan and to supervise production of the Academy yearbook. This course will be open to approved seniors. Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of Publications I: Yearbook and teacher approval. Only two publication courses may be taken for credit.
PUBLICATIONS I: NEWSPAPER is the study of the basic skills required to write news and to produce a school news publication. Students will be introduced to the basics of writing news stories, feature stories, editorials, opinion columns, headlines, and photo captions; the skills needed to take photos to accompany news stories; and the desktop publishing software skills needed to produce the school newsletter. Students may be required on infrequent occasions to attend an after-school event in order to gather information needed for the newsletter. A workbook is to be purchased. Prerequisite: Teacher approval
PUBLICATIONS II: NEWSPAPER refines the skills learned in Newspaper I. The student accepts the responsibility to produce the school newspaper. This course is open to approved seniors. A workbook is to be purchased. Prerequisite: Publications I: Newspaper and Teacher approval. Only two publication courses may be taken for credit.
MASS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS is a year course open to juniors and seniors. Students will prepare and produce the school’s morning announcements on a daily basis. Students will also learn the skills needed to create video news and feature reports for both the morning announcements and for class-only assignments; learn basic journalistic writing and reporting skills pertinent to news reporting; learn to manipulate digital video cameras; learn to use computer-based video editing software; briefly survey the history of broadcasting; briefly survey the presentation of news on local and cable television networks; and make video recordings of school events for archival purposes. Prerequisite: Teacher approval
SCIENCE OF TESTING (Senior ACT Prep) is a first semester class for seniors. Students will engage in teacher directed practice tests and exercises. Students will analyze practice tests and exercises for a better understanding of ACT question structures. Special attention will be placed on the math section. The course will also help students to develop their own test-taking techniques and help to relieve test-taking anxiety. Students must take the October and December ACT as part of the requirement. This course will be taught on a Pass/Fail basis. There is an approximate $40 course fee. (The course fee includes a student workbook and individual practice test professional analysis.) Prerequisite: Senior Status
SCIENCE OF TESTING (Underclassmen ACT Prep) is a second semester class for juniors and selected sophomores. Students will engage in teacher directed practice tests and exercises. Students will analyze practice tests and exercises for a better understanding of ACT question structures. Special attention will be placed on the math section. The course will also help students to develop their own test-taking techniques and help to relieve test-taking anxiety. Students must take the February and April ACT as part of the requirement. This course will be taught on a Pass/Fail basis. There is an approximate $40 course fee. (The course fee includes a student workbook and individual practice test professional analysis.) Prerequisite: Juniors with at least a 17 composite on the PLAN test and a 2.3 TOPS GPA. Teacher approval is required.
