Middle School Advanced Learning Program
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The Middle School Advanced Learning courses service all three middle school buildings in Lakeville Area Schools. Honors courses help to meet the needs of advanced learners in core content areas by enriching and extending the curriculum. Eligibility for advanced courses are determined yearly. Listed below are the honors courses available to middle school students.
Middle School Honors Courses



Middle School Honors Placement Criteria
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All middle school students are reviewed annually for placement in Honors courses.
Eligibility for each honors course is determined by separate and specific criteria. Generally, students qualify for an honors course with the following:
- FastBridge test scores above the 90th percentile
- Rating scales based on classroom performance
- A test or written application essay
- CogAT Scores (6th Grade)
Grade-specific criteria can be found in the tabs below.
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6th Grade Requirements for Honors Enrollment
Honors English 6
Most incoming 6th grade students who have been identified in our Lakeville Area Schools Ignite! and Discover gifted programs will be placed in the Honors English 6 course. Additional students can be added, if necessary.
Honors Math 6
Students must meet two of the following four criteria:
- Qualifying score on Grade 5 Fall, Winter, or Spring aMath FastBridge Score
- Quantitative 4th grade CogAT score of at least 90th percentile
Honors Pre-Algebra
- Qualifying score on Grade 5 Fall, Winter, or Spring aMath FastBridge Score
- Quantitative 4th grade CogAT score of at least 90th percentile - OR - Nonverbal/Quantitative composite 4th grade CogAT score of at least 90th percentile
Ignite! students are automatically placed in Honors Pre-Algebra unless they do not make expected, grade advanced progress in the 5th grade Ignite! math class.
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7th Grade Requirements for Honors Enrollment
Honors English 7
- Qualifying score on Grade 6 Fall, Winter, or Spring aReading FastBridge Score
- Timed Essay
- Rating Scale
Honors Science 7
- Qualifying score on Grade 6 Fall, Winter, or Spring aReading FastBridge Score
- Qualifying score on Grade 6 Fall, Winter, or Spring aMath FastBridge Score
- Rating Scale
Honors Math 7
- Qualifying score on Grade 6 Fall, Winter, or Spring aMath FastBridge Score
- Placement Test
- Rating Scale
Honors Algebra 7
- Students enrolled in Honors Pre-Algebra/Honors Math 7 as 6th graders are eligible for this course
- Students must consistently demonstrate proficiency on summative assessments for course standards to continue
- Placement Test
- Rating Scale
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8th Grade Requirements for Honors Enrollment
Honors English 8
- Qualifying score on Grade 7 Fall, Winter, or Spring aReading FastBridge Score
- Timed Essay
- Rating Scale
Honors Science 8
- Qualifying score on Grade 7 Fall, Winter, or Spring aReading FastBridge Score
- Qualifying score on Grade 7 Fall, Winter, or Spring aMath FastBridge Score
- Rating Scale
Honors Algebra 8
- Qualifying score on Grade 7 Fall, Winter, or Spring aMath FastBridge Score
- Placement Test
- Rating Scale
Honors Geometry 8
- Honors Geometry is a high school course, and grades in this course will be on students' transcripts affecting high school GPA
- Students enrolled in Honors Algebra as 7th graders are eligible for this course
- Students must consistently demonstrate proficiency on summative assessments for course standards to continue
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Why Advanced Learners Have Placement Standards
Lakeville Area Schools has meaningful, equitable and transparent placement standards for placing advanced learners in honors courses. The standards and processes used to identify students for honors courses are based on various academic and research papers and practices used by neighboring school districts. To learn more about why we have placement standards and the types of assessments we use to identify advanced learners, please read this linked document:
Contact
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For questions about placement, please contact your student's dean. For general inquiries, see below.
Kierstien Fetzek
T&L Contact
Kierstien.Fetzek@isd194.org