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Advanced Academics

Teaching & Learning Advanced Academics

Lake Worth ISD is committed to closing the opportunity gap by recruiting and retaining students who are likely to succeed in advanced coursework. LWISD recommends that learners challenge themselves by participating in advanced academic programs.

In Advanced Academics, there is an increase in rigor with an emphasis on critical knowledge and skills designed to prepare students for college and careers. Taking advanced courses in intermediate, middle and high school is the best way to prepare for college admission and college success.

Why Consider Advanced Academics

  • Taking a rigorous curriculum in high school is the best predictor of students’ ability to complete a bachelors’ degree (Answers in the Toolbox, 1999).
  • The number and quality of advanced courses a learner takes is more significant than GPA or class rank for predicting college success.
  • Students taking more advanced courses score about 2.4 points higher on the ACT composite than students taking standard graduation plan courses (ACT High School Profile, 2005).
  • Students taking Advanced Placement (AP) courses in high school have higher GPAs in college than students who do not take AP Courses (Answers in the Toolbox, 1999).
  • Learners who have taken AP courses generally score higher on the SAT than learners who have not taken AP courses.
  • The number of advanced courses a learner takes in high school may be a factor considered by a college when making admission decisions.

Lake Worth ISD is committed to providing the most appropriate services for each of its students. Through the district's Gifted and Talented services, Advanced Placement, AVID, Dual Credit, and other enrichment programs, our brightest, most able learners are provided enriched and differentiated instruction designed to challenge and encourage. LWISD offers our students opportunities to become critical thinkers, to grow academically and to emerge as tomorrow's leaders.  

If you have questions about Lake Worth ISD's Advanced Academics program, please contact the Director of Advanced Academics & CCMR, Michael Mundt, at (817) 306-4200 x 3004 or at mmundt@lwisd.org 

  • Advanced Academics
    Advanced Placement

     

    Equity and Access to Honors and AP Courses: LWISD has a genuine commitment to preparing ALL students for challenging academic work. PreAP and AP courses have open enrollment, and students are encouraged to reap the benefits of rigorous coursework. College Board research clearly shows that students who participate in challenging coursework, including PreAP and AP courses, have considerably higher success in college.

    Honors - A Different Kind of Class:

    • Through increased rigor, PreAP courses can help students acquire the skills and habits needed to be successful in high school and college. Through these courses, students will improve writing skills, time management skills, study habits and sharpen problem-solving abilities.
    • A PreAP classroom is different - in the teacher's approach to the subject, student attitudes, and ways of thinking.
    • In the PreAP classroom, the priority lies in intense discussions, rigorous learning with real-world applications, and clear and persuasive writing. Classroom activities are designed to engage students in problem-solving, academic discourse and critical analysis.
       

    Advanced Placement Courses:
    Enrollment in Advanced Placement courses should be based on a combination of ability, interest, and a desire to intellectually challenge oneself since the curriculum requires more advanced and intensive work. Students may enroll in Advanced Placement courses in any subject in which they are offered.

    As college-level courses, Advanced Placement courses prepare a student for the Advanced Placement Examinations given by the College Board in the spring semester. A successful score, stipulated by each individual university on each Advanced Placement examination, determines the amount of college credit and/or course placement. Students enrolled in Advanced Placement courses are strongly encouraged to take the corresponding examination. Financial aid to defray examination costs is available for eligible students. 

  • Advanced Academics
    Credit by Exam

     

    Credit By Exam for Lake Worth ISD

    What is Credit by Exam?

    Let us explain:

    • Exams for Acceleration:
      • Exams for Acceleration (EA) provide students an opportunity to earn grade level subject area credit or to advance through a grade level without prior instruction.
      • Students must demonstrate mastery of 80% or higher on all Exams for Acceleration (EA). Science, Social Studies, Math and English.
    • Credit By Exam:
      • Utilized to earn credit for a course, when a student has had prior instruction, traditionally within middle and high school.
      • Students must demonstrate mastery of 70% or higher on a CBE to earn verification or retrieval credit.

     

    If you are interested, please see your student’s school counselor. Exam times are listed below for the 2025-2026 school year.
     

    Fall Semester:  

    • September 30, 2025 (Register by September 5, 2025)
    • November 7, 2025 (Register by October 9, 2025) 

     

    Spring Semester: 

    • February 26, 2026 (Register by January 26, 2026)
    • May 21, 2026 (Register by May 1, 2026) 

     

    Credit by Examination, Grades 6-12:

    A student in grades 6-12 may be awarded credit based on performance on a CBE taken either with no prior instruction (scoring an 80%) or with prior instruction (scoring a 70%; credit recovery). Students may not attempt to earn credit by exam for the same high school subject more than two times.

    If you are interested, please see your student’s school counselor.

     

     

    Credit by Examination for Acceleration, Kinder-grade 5:

    A student in grades K-5 can be accelerated one grade if the student scores 80% or higher on each CBE including language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies for the grade level the student wishes to advance past. 

    If you are interested, please see your student’s school counselor.

     

     

    A student will earn course credit with a passing score of at least 80 on the exam. Depending on the student's grade level and the course for which the student seeks to earn credit by exam, an end-of-course (EOC) assessment may be required for graduation.  

    A student in elementary school will be eligible to accelerate to the next grade level if the student scores at least 80 on each exam in the subject areas of language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.  

    If a student plans to take an exam, the student (or parent/guardian) must register with the principal no later than 30 days prior to the scheduled testing date. The district will not honor a request by a student or parent/guardian to administer a test on a date other than the published dates. If the district agrees to administer a test other than the one chosen by the district, the student's parent/guardian will be responsible for the cost of the exam.  

    [For further information, see policy EHDC(LOCAL) on the Lake Worth ISD website under Our District - School Board - Board Policy Online.]

  • Advanced Academics
    Dual Credit

     

    The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) website of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board defines dual credit in this way:

    Dual credit – Dual credit courses are college courses that also count toward high school requirements. These courses may be taken at the high school (or at the college) during the regular school hours and are taught by a high school teacher with appropriate credentials, or by regular college faculty. Successful completion of the course can earn high school credit as well as college credit.

    Dual credit is a process that allows high school students to enroll in college-level classes to earn both high school and college credit. Dual credit courses may be offered on the high school campus or on the college campus during the school day. High school students may also enroll in a college course from the approved list during the summer or after school with the approval of the high school principal.

    The Dual Credit courses are in cooperation with Tarrant County College. 

    Students who take a college course offered by the high school during the school day will receive simultaneous high school and college credit. During the summer or outside school hours, students who satisfactorily complete pre-approved college courses on the dual credit list will receive high school credit after they present their college courses transcript/grades for placement on the high school transcript.

    Dual enrollment credit is accepted by state schools. Students who plan to attend a private or out-of-state school should check with schools on their policy of accepting dual or concurrent enrollment courses. Interested students should check the course catalog online or with counselors who will have updated lists.

Advanced Testing

Lake Worth High School will be giving the PSAT on October 8 to students in grades 9-11. For more information, please contact Dr. Dearman at adearman@lwisd.org.    

Lake Worth High School will be giving the following Advanced Placement exams in May 2025. For more information, please contact adearman@lwisd.org.

 

  • May 4 Biology 
  • May 5 Human Geography, US Government & Politics 
  • May 11 Calculus  
  • May 13 Spanish Literature & Culture 
  • May 14 Spanish Language & Culture