Academics

Advanced Academics is a program for students who are highly motivated, developing college-bound behavior, and capable of performing at an academic level above their grade placement. At this level, students move at a faster pace in a more academically challenging environment to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills. These courses provide students with opportunities to develop a strong foundation by exploring a subject in greater depth and developing skills, habits of mind, and concepts needed to succeed in college preparatory coursework. 

Advanced Academic courses prepare students for the Advanced and Advanced Placement (AP) courses they have the opportunity to take in high school and are offered in the four core subject areas. Additionally, Spanish III is a Advanced course. Advanced Academic students can expect more independent learning and more homework than a regular class. Students and parents are required to sign and abide for the Grand Prairie ISD Advanced Academic/AP contract.

Students may express an interest in taking a Advanced course by obtaining a Advanced Academic Request form from the Advanced Academics Specialist or the counselors' office. Prior grades, achievement test scores, and STAAR scores are evaluated by the Advanced Academics Specialist when a student is considering enrollment into an Advanced Academic course.

Gifted and Talented (GT) is a program for students who are identified as Gifted and Talented. In accordance with the Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted and Talented Students, students are screened using multiple criteria, which includes both quantitative and qualitative data. Placement decisions are made by a Campus Selection Committee, and policies for appeals, furloughs, and exit procedures are available upon request. In middle school, GT students are served in the four core academic areas according to their identified strengths. 

GT courses are often paired with Pre-AP courses and include all of the elements of Pre-AP courses. Within this combination of courses, GT students receive instruction and learning opportunities appropriately differentiated to meet the needs of more advanced learners, enabling students to engage in more elaborate, complex, and in-depth studies of abstract ideas, problems, and themes.  As with the Pre-AP courses, students can expect a more academically challenging environment to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills, as well as more independent learning and more homework than a regular class. These courses provide students with opportunities to develop a strong foundation by exploring a subject in greater depth and developing skills, habits of mind, and concepts needed to succeed in college preparatory coursework. Students and parents are required to sign and abide for the Grand Prairie ISD Pre-AP/AP contract.

Nominations for the Gifted and Talented Program may be submitted to the Advanced Academics Specialist. Students may be nominated by parents, teachers, counselors, administrators, or any other interested party who is familiar with the student's abilities.

At the middle school level, AP Spanish Language is offered to students who qualify for the course via a placement exam or the successful completion of Pre-AP Spanish III. 

Advanced Placement (AP) courses are part of a program begun by The College Board, a not for profit association whose mission is to connect students to college success and opportunity. High schools across the United States work with The College Board to offer these advanced courses. Through AP courses, students ...

• take college level coursework in high school
• study subjects in depth
• explore the world from multiple perspectives
• develop study habits for tackling rigorous work
• focus on deeper reasoning, analysis, and problem-solving
• show universities they were willing to take on the demands of an AP course and they are ready for colleges

Through AP exams, students earn college credit with a passing score on an AP exam. Each college and university establishes accepted scores on specific exams for college credit. When looking at college choice and planning for AP classes in high school, this is important information. The Advanced Academics Specialist can show you how to locate this information.

Business Information Management, or BIM, introduces the basic concepts and skills related to microcomputer systems. Special emphasis is placed on word processing, electronic spreadsheets, charts, database design, desktop publishing, and PowerPoint presentations.  Students develop computer literacy skills to adapt to emerging technologies used in the global marketplace.  Students implement personal and interpersonal skills to prepare for rapidly evolving workplace and educational environments.  Students enhance reading, writing, computer, communication, and reasoning skills and apply them to the information technology environment.
 
A full year of BIM meets the one technology application requirement for high school graduation under each GPISD graduation plan.  This is a course taken in 8th grade but approved for high school credit, so all work will be graded and recorded according to high school credits with daily work counting 40%, major assignments counting 60% and comprehensive semester exams given each semester.

Free Tech Prep credit for college at one of the local community colleges is also possible with credit for BIM and at least a B average.

The mission of the Fannin Middle School Orchestra Program is to provide a positive and nurturing environment where all students can develop musical and technical skills, work effectively with peers, and develop a positive self-image through participation in musical rehearsals and performances. 
Goals of the Fannin Middle School Orchestra Program will be achieved as a result of active student participation in the following areas: 

• Performance – students will perform a varied repertoire of music while focusing on a high level of musicianship
• Technical skills – students will develop technical and musical skills at or above those appropriate for middle school level performers
• Ensemble skills – students will develop effective ensemble skills appropriate for the middle school orchestra
• Sight Reading – students will develop sight reading skills at or above those appropriate for middle school level performers.

Course Offerings: 

Symphonic (Varsity) Orchestra – Symphonic (Varsity) orchestra is comprised of 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year players. This is the top student performance group that plays competitively at UIL, the only admittance to this group is by invitation only. Students are expected to participate in All-Region Orchestra Auditions, All-City Orchestra Auditions, Grand Prairie Solo & Ensemble, Region 20 UIL Concert & Sight-Reading Competition, Students are also expected to attend sectionals before or after school as scheduled.

Concert (Non-Varsity) Orchestra – Concert (Non-Varsity) orchestra will be comprised of 2nd and 3rdyear players who have gone through the beginning class, but are not advanced enough to play competitively. You must audition to be in the Non-Varsity orchestra. Students are expected to participate in All-Region Orchestra Auditions, All-City Orchestra Auditions, Grand Prairie Solo & Ensemble.

Beginner Orchestra – This is for students just starting out in Orchestra, any one can join. Students are expected to participate in the Grand Prairie Solo & Ensemble Competition.

Remind 101 is a recommended app that will be used at competitions to communicate with parents and students.

Classes

Theatre I 
Theatre Arts I is for first-year theatre students regardless of grade level. Theatre I consists of basic acting techniques, the role of the actor in interpreting dramatic literature, introduction to stagecraft and technical theatre. All students will be expected to perform and participate in acting activities, scenes and performances. Students will participate in at least one play or performance in front of a live audience.

Theatre II (Prerequisite: Theatre I)
Theatre Arts II is for second-year theatre students regardless of grade level. Theatre II consists of intermediate to advanced acting techniques, the roles of all jobs involved in a play production, interpreting dramatic literature, performing and participating in acting activities, scenes, performances and productions. Students will be taught aspects of stagecraft and technical theatre as well. Students will be expected to participate in plays or performances in front of a live audience. Some after-school and extracurricular time will be required. Basic instruction in stage make-up and costumes from a variety of historical eras. Also, students will be introduced to constructing stage props, puppets, public relations, and publicity as well as fashion design and sewing. This is a very hands-on course that requires working with tools, sewing, designing, painting and basic stage/area upkeep and cleanliness.

Competition Theatre-Prerequisites: Audition Only/Teacher Approval Needed
Competitive theatre is a course that is intended for students interested in pursuing theatre at the competitive level and beyond. Students will focus on advanced acting techniques, interpreting dramatic literature, prose and poetry. Students will be required to perform and participate in a wide variety of competitive theatre and oral interpretation competitions, performances and festivals including but not limited to UIL, Texas Forensics Association and The National Speech and Debate Association. This course requires after-school rehearsals and performances, many times on Saturdays.

All students in this course are required to participate in all after-school productions, performances and events for the Theatre Department. Attendance and competing at tournaments, rehearsals and productions are mandatory.

There will be basic instruction in stage make-up and costumes from a variety of historical eras. Also, students will be introduced to constructing stage props, puppets, public relations, and publicity as well as fashion design and sewing. This is a very hands-on course that requires working with tools, sewing, designing, painting and basic stage/area upkeep and cleanliness. After-school and extra-curricular are required for all theatre productions and technical assistance, as well as production assistance for any organization needing technical theatre assistance.