Secondary Advanced Academics Improvement and Innovation Plan
Relevant details and data for the Secondary Advanced Academics Programs
Program Overview
There are many opportunities for secondary students to develop their talents, receive differentiated instruction, and higher level content. Some of these opportunities fall under Advanced Academic Programs.
Honors Courses
All students are encouraged to enroll in at least one Honors Courses in an area of strength or interest each year. Students may self-select one or more honors courses in areas that match their academic interests or strengths.
International Baccalaureate (IB)
The International Baccalaureate® aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.
To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.
These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.
FCPS schools have 3 IB programs at the secondary level.
International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (IB MYP)
The International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (IB MYP) employs a whole-school approach to conceptual teaching and learning that prepares students for higher level coursework, including the IB Diploma Program and Career-related Program.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP) and IB Career-Related Program (IBCP)
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP) and IB Career-Related Program (IBCP) is available for students in grades 11-12 at some high schools.
Advanced Placement (AP) program
The Advanced Placement (AP) program provides students with the opportunity to take college level courses while in High School. In FCPS, 22 high schools offer at least one AP course, and all students have access to AP courses through the online campus. Students can earn credit towards graduation by taking an AP course and can prepare for an optional end of course AP exam that may entitle a student to college credit or advanced placement in college. The AP program provides academic rigor to students. For more information, see
Scope of Impact
Middle school data includes Honors classes and students receiving Full-Time AAP Services.
High school data includes these classes:
- Honors
- Advanced Placement (AP)
- International Baccalaureate (IB)
| School Year | School Level | Number of Sites | Number of FCPS Students | Number of Students in Advanced Courses | Percent of Students Taking Advanced Courses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | MS | 26 | 29,574 | 20,858 | 70.5% |
| HS | 28 | 60,785 | 33,129 Honors 41,410 Honors, AP, and IB | 54.5% Honors 68.1% | |
| 2022-23 | MS | 26 | 28,204 | 20,824 | 73.8% |
| HS | 28 | 60,808 | 34,167 Honors 43,413 Honors, AP, and IB | 56.2% Honors 71.4% | |
| 2023-24 (projected) | MS | 26 | 28,344 | 20,490 | 72.3% |
| HS | 28 | 60,731 | 33,670 Honors 43,958 Honors, AP, and IB | 55.4% Honors 72.4% |
| School Year | School Level | Number of Sites | Number of Students |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | MS | 8 | 8,821 |
| HS | 7 | 8,319 | |
| 2022-23 | MS | 8 | 8,697 |
| HS | 7 | 8,638 | |
| 2023-24 (projected) | MS | 8 | 8,172 |
| HS | 7 | 7,695 |
Data is only for students in their junior (grade 11) and senior (grade 12) years.
| School Year | Program | Number of Sites | Number of Students Served | Number of Students in IB Courses | Percent of Students Taking IB Courses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | Diploma Programme | 8 | 8,652 | 5,186 | 60% |
| Career-related Programme (Lewis, South Lakes, and Mount Vernon) | 3 | 3,084 | 77 | 2.5% | |
| 2022-23 | Diploma Programme | 8 | 8,507 | 5,377 | 63% |
| Career-related Programme (Lewis, South Lakes, and Mount Vernon) | 3 | 2,641 | 114 | 4.3% | |
| 2023-24 (projected) | Diploma Programme | 8 | 8774 | 5831 | 66% |
| Career-related Programme (South Lakes and Mount Vernon) | 2 | 2,233 | 89 | 3.9% |
22 High Schools have at least 1 AP course. FCPS online campus provides AP course instruction to students at all 24 high schools.
| School Year | School Level | Number of Sites | Number of Students |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | HS | 24 | 16,591 |
| 2022-23 | HS | 24 | 17,941 |
| 2023-24 (projected) | HS | 24 | 18,703 |
Goals, Actions, and Measures
By June 2024, increase the proportion of both AP and IB tests that are taken by Young Scholars from 8% to 9%.
Actions
- The Advanced Academics Program (AAP) team will continue to provide targeted professional learning for secondary school staff around the Young Scholars model at the secondary level. This work focuses on academic advising and encouraging historically underrepresented students to enroll in at least one honors, AP, or IB course based on strengths and interests. Ongoing funding for Young Scholars Summer Camp experiences for some middle schools also supports this goal.
- The Advanced Academics Program (AAP) team will continue to offer ongoing professional development and academy courses to increase the knowledge of differentiating curriculum to meet the needs of advanced learners.
- A final strategic action is the Student Achievement Grant (SAG) coordinated by Instructional Services. Schools have the opportunity to apply for up to $10,000 to implement a school-based program to support student performance in honors/AP/IB courses through mentoring, tutoring, and social-emotional support for students.
Measures
- Yearly analysis of AP and IB tests taken by Young Scholars program participants.
- Qualitative street-level analysis of schools’ Young Scholars programs.
- Analysis of schools’ recruiting techniques for IB and AP courses.
By June 2024, increase the percent of students earning a score of 3 or higher on AP exams (4 or higher on IB exams), with a focus on closing achievement gaps from historically underrepresented subgroups (Black, Hispanic, students with disabilities, and English learners) by 2 percentage points for each subgroup.
Actions
- The Advanced Academics Program (AAP) team offers a week-long Advanced Placement Summer Institute (APSI) for teachers that is endorsed by the College Board. The APSI is 30 hours of intensive training in AP content and appropriate pedagogy focused on strategies for access to rigor and supporting diverse student needs. The APSI is offered to all FCPS teachers free of tuition charges and is cost-neutral to the district because outside participants can pay tuition to attend.
- The AAP team in ISD provides IB teachers with the opportunity to participate in professional development offered by the IBO. The sessions are specific to the IB content and assist teachers in IB content and pedagogy geared to improve student performance and close achievement gaps.
- A second strategic action is the Student Achievement Grant (SAG) coordinated by Instructional Services. Schools have the opportunity to apply for up to $10,000 to implement a school-based program to support student performance in IB and AP courses through mentoring, tutoring, and social-emotional support for students.
- IB specialist will work with IB Coordinators to pinpoint areas of strength and growth in their buildings to address for this school year. We will look at exams scores in the fall of 2024 and share out successful strategies.
- IB specialist will request assistance from data specialist to introduce the IB Exam Workbook in EDSL to IB Coordinators for a better, more specific understanding of exam scores, component scores, and student demographics.
Measures:
- Yearly analysis of AP and IB exam performance by student subgroup and Young Scholars.
- Data on which IB and AP courses ELs are taking, what level ELs are taking those courses, and EL performance by IB and AP course and school.
By June 2024, 78% of students finishing 8th grade will show evidence of progression towards or successful completion of advanced coursework by enrolling in at least 1 honors course or designated AA course at some point in middle school and earning a C- or higher in that course.
Actions:
- The Advanced Academics Program (AAP) team will continue to provide targeted professional learning for secondary school staff around differentiating curriculum and instruction to meet the needs of advanced learners. In addition, the team will continue to encourage teachers to obtain their FCPS AAP endorsement or state endorsement in gifted education.
- Data will be gathered quarterly by the AAP office documenting student progress in honors or full time level IV courses. Data will be disaggregated by Advanced Academic Resource Teachers within the school building to ensure students are showing evidence of successful completion of enrolled advanced coursework.
- The Advanced Academics Program (AAP) will work in collaboration with student services to promote honors enrollment through course registration.
Measures:
- Number of students enrolled in honors and AA designated courses.
- Enrollment of secondary teachers in academy courses and professional development training.
- Data on which honors courses and full-time level IV courses students are taking, and how students are performing in those courses.
