Advanced Academics

All HONORS courses offer the opportunity to:

• provide students with the skills and strategies necessary to be independent successful learners.
• challenge the student's creative and analytical reading, thinking, presenting, and writing skills.
• align with a standard of performance as indicated by AP examinations.
• become lifelong learners who participate yearly in AP conferences and institutes.

Honors course offered:

• English 1 Honors
• English 2 Honors
• Geometry Honors
• Algebra 2 Honors
• Biology 1 Honors
• Chemistry Honors
• U.S. History Honors
• Spanish 3 Honors
• Chinese 3 Honors
• Art 3 Honors

ADVANCED PLACEMENT:

The purpose of College Board Advanced Placement (AP) courses is to prepare the students for college work and/or AP exams that provide students the opportunity to receive college credit. By earning a college's required grade on an AP Exam (usually a 3, 4, or 5), students may receive the equivalent of credit for a semester's or year's worth of coursework. This could also save the student (parent) the cost of tuition or books for that required course.

A Ball High School Advanced Placement course follows the curriculum developed by the College Board Advanced Placement Program. (A Ball High student enrolled in an AP course studies a standardized curriculum similar to other AP courses offered across the country.) A course designated as AP is therefore recognized nationally by high schools, colleges, and universities for the consistency of its curriculum.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES:  

• are more demanding than regular high school courses
• are recommended for highly motivated students.  are different from the regular high school courses in that they are taught with college curricula and college level materials. (The curriculum of an AP course is at an accelerated pace, and performance is assessed at the analysis and synthesis level).
• allow students the opportunity to engage in subjects at a greater depth than regular courses. give the students the background and preparation that will prove beneficial for student success when enrolled in college.

Advanced Placement courses offered:

• English 3 AP
• English 4 AP
• Physics AP
• Physics 2 AP
• Statistics AP
• Pre-Cal AP
• Chemistry AP
• Government AP
• Economics AP
• Psychology AP
• Spanish 4 AP
• Spanish 5 AP
• Chinese 4 AP
• Art 2 AP
• Art 3 Ceramics AP
• Art History AP
• Computer Science AP
• Biology AP

 

 

Ball High students in conjunction with Galveston College, have the opportunity to earn high school credit through college course credit. Students may choose to earn college credit by enrolling at Galveston College under the dual credit arrangement during the school year and/or summer. Theses courses are taught on the Ball High campus, Galveston College campus, and/or online.

To participate in this program, students register at Ball High and Galveston College during the prior school year. Students may also be required to pay Galveston College tuition and fees. Costs are set by the college. Financial aid may be available

To be eligible to take academic dual coursework, students must meet one of the following requirements (depending on the dual courses the students desires to take) :

1. Take the TSI assessment and assess as college ready

2. Take the ACT test and score a composite of 23 or higher with a minimum of 19 or higher in the corresponding sections of the English or Math

3. Take the SAT and score a minimum of 530 in mathematics and a 480 in Verbal.

4. Take the PSAT/NMSAT and score a minimum of 460 on evidence-based reading and writing test and/or a score of 510 on the mathematics test.

5. Achieve a score of 4000 on English II STAAR EOC and /or a score of 4000 on the Algebra I STAAR EOC and in conjunction, a passing grade in the Algebra II Course.

Academic Dual Credit Courses offered:

• Anatomy & Physiology: BIOL 2401 & BIOL 2402
• Art Appreciation: ARTS 1301
• Biology: BIOL 1406 & BIOL 1407
• Business Comm: SPCH 1321
• British Literature: ENGL 2332
• Calculus AB/BC: MATH 2413 (Calculus I) & MATH 2414 (Calculus II)
• Chemistry: CHEM 1411 & CHEM 1412
• College Alg/Pre-Calc: MATH 1314 (College Algebra)& MATH 2312 (Pre-Calculus)
• English III or English IV: ENGL1301 & ENGL1302
• Environmental Science: ENVR 1301/ENVR 1101 & ENVR 1302/ENVR 1102
• Federal Government: GOVT 2305
•  Film Appreciation: DRAM 2366
• Learning Frameworks: EDUC 1300
• Music Appreciation: MUSI 1306
• Philosophy: PHIL 1301
• Physics: PHYS 1401 & PHYS 1402
• Psychology: PSYC 2301
•  Sociology: SOCI 1301
• Stats: MATH 1342
• Tech Writing: ENGL 2311
• Texas Government: GOVT 2306
• US History: HIST 1301 & HIST 1302
• Western Civilization: HIST 2311 & HIST 2312