Honors Classes
HONORS CLASSES
North Kansas City Schools offers “honors” courses to secondary students.These replace the "challenge" courses previously offered. The purpose of these courses is to address the cognitive and affective needs of high achieving students by providing an accelerated and enriched academic program.
Honors courses ensure differentiated curricula are provided for all students. These courses challenge students to complete rigorous academic work and to be responsible for their own learning. In addition, courses are designed to help students demonstrate mastery of district graduation goals.
Honors courses comprise one component of earning honors recognition in high school. Students who meet the requirements of the Gold Medallion Honors Diploma or the International Baccalaureate Diploma earn honors status. Requirements include successful completion of eight or more credits in honors courses. Honors or Pre-IB courses may be selected from specially designated offerings at the freshman / sophomore level and from any dual credit, AP, or IB course at the junior/senior level.
Ninth graders may begin meeting honors requirements for honors graduation by enrolling in one or more honors courses.
These courses challenge students, even if they have successfully earned high grades without struggling in the past. Courses require hard work, dedication, and self-discipline. Students will be expected to make a substantial commitment of study and homework time for each course. Students looking for a challenge and possessing a strong desire to achieve academic excellence should consider the following list
of characteristics.
Honors course students should:
- Always have made A’s or B’s in the selected area(s) of coursework in middle school
- Have standardized test achievement score in the 80th percentile or higher in the selected area(s) of coursework.
- Have 95% or higher average daily attendance.
- Be able to organize, plan and complete assignments and projects with little direction or additional support.
- Consistently demonstrate higher order thinking skills by applying knowledge, applying skills, analyzing, and evaluating.
- Demonstrate self-discipline and the ability to cooperate with classmates and teachers .
- Have a strong interest in and curiosity about the subject matter.
If you have questions or would like further information, check with your student's counselor or any administrator at the high school.
