San Antonio’s Advanced Placement (AP) Program enables highly motivated and capable students to pursue college-level studies, with the opportunity to earn college credit, while still in high school. AP courses are offered in mathematics, social studies, science, reading-language arts, foreign languages, art, music, computer science, and more. Students in AP courses are exposed to rigorous content with an emphasis on the development of higher order critical thinking skills and creative problem solving.

AP courses are open enrollment and participation is based on course prerequisites as indicated in each campus course catalog. Upon successful completion of an AP course, students will receive high school credit. All students of AP courses are expected to take the corresponding AP exam, which provides the opportunity to earn college credit when a recommended score is obtained. Over eighty-five percent of selective colleges and universities report that a student's experience of taking AP courses favorably impacts admission decisions.

For more information about Advanced Placement, visit the AP Webpage or contact Katheryn Cline.

SAISD believes that all students are capable of excelling at rigorous academic standards when provided the necessary knowledge, skills, opportunities, and support network. Pre-Advanced Placement (Pre-AP) courses are an introduction into rigorous, college-level classes and provide an opportunity for students to gain the skills and experiences to succeed in Advanced Placement (AP) courses and in college coursework.

Pre-AP students in SAISD will:

• Connect current learning to AP ideas and problems;
• Explore a variety of perspectives, approaches, and potential solutions;
• Transfer content and skills to other disciplines and novel problems;
• Develop habits of mind to persevere through productive struggle and academic discourse;
• Increase sophistication of thought through critical thinking strategies; and
• Take ownership and responsibility of learning, developing intrinsic motivation.

While all SAISD courses are designed to prepare students for college, Pre-AP courses introduce students to college level work while in high school, increase the likelihood of having success in an AP course, and better prepare students for obtaining a recommended score on an AP exam.

For more information about Pre-AP courses, please visit the specific department of

interest via the SAISD Webpage. Select departments are listed below:

Social Studies Webpage

Science Webpage

Reading-Language Arts Webpage

Mathematics Webpage

Dual Language, ESL, & Migrant Webpage

AVID, or Advancement Via Individual Determination, is designed to increase the number of students who enroll in and graduate from four-year colleges and universities. The AVID college readiness system accelerates student learning, uses research-based methods of effective instruction, provides meaningful and motivational professional learning, and acts as a catalyst for systemic reform and change. The system is credited with helping to turn students into confident, college-going scholars and graduates.

AVID Excel is designed to prepare 7th and 8th grade students to enter 9th grade with the language skills that will enable them to succeed in rigorous coursework. AVID Excel specifically focuses on long-term English Learners with the mission to change their trajectory by accelerating language acquisition, developing literacy, and placing AVID Excel students on the path to high school AVID and college preparatory coursework.

For more information about AVID, visit the AVID Webpage or contact Dr. Cynthia Martinez.

The SAISD World Languages Program is designed to prepare students for an increasingly open and globally interconnected world through language acquisition. Classes are available for American Sign Language, French, Japanese, Chinese, Latin, and Spanish, and include exploratory levels in elementary and beginner and intermediate levels in middle and high school. World Language Advanced Placement (AP) courses are also available, which provide students to study language at a college level while in high school, and provide the opportunity to earn college credit upon obtaining a recommended score on the corresponding AP exam. Participation in World Languages courses offers students the opportunity to advance their academic, linguistic, and social success in preparation for college and career readiness.

For more information about World Languages, visit the World Languages Webpage or email curriculum@saisd.net

An International Baccalaureate education is acclaimed because of its rigorous academic and personal standards. An IB education challenges students to excel not only in their studies but also in their personal growth. The IB concept emphasizes learning how to learn, encouraging students to value learning as an essential and integral part of their everyday lives.

IB learners strive to be:

• Inquirers
• Knowledgeable
• Thinkers
• Communicators
• Principled
• Open-minded
• Caring
• Risk-takers
• Balanced
• Reflective

To that end, IB learners are better prepared for higher education. The IB Diploma represents one of the highest standards in college-preparatory education. Research suggests IB students are more likely than their peers to complete their undergraduate degrees and pursue graduate work; and they are more likely to be engaged in various aspects of university life, and life itself.

For more information about International Baccalaureate, visit the IB Webpage or contact Penny Tschirhart

SAISD's Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) Department aims to transform potential in youth into outstanding achievement in adulthood. the district is committed to identifying and nurturing individual strengths in order to cultivate the unique intellectual and academic gifts and talents of our students.

Through the use of 21st century learning tools, collaboration with classrooms teachers, and student and parent involvement, we will foster the development of engaged, self-motivated, learners and leaders who will be college and career ready while demonstrating skills in self-directed learning, critical thinking, research, and communication. GATE students will develop innovative products and performances that will reflect individuality and creativity and be presented to an audience outside the classroom.

For more information about Gifted and Talented Education, visit the GATE Webpage or contact Christine Williamson.

San Antonio ISD students can engage in rigorous college level course work through college and universities who have a fully executed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU's) with the district. Students earn college credit at no cost while working toward a high school diploma and their postsecondary education.

Dual Credit courses are courses taught by a college instructor or SAISD teacher approved as an adjunct instructor; all curriculum, resources and grades are controlled by the professor/instructor and the college department. The student earns credit for a high school course that is matched to the content of the college course. Grades for the high school course and college course are typically the same.

Dual Enrollment courses are courses taught by a college instructor who determines all curriculum, resources, and grades for the college course in collaboration with a high school teacher who helps to facilitate the college course and who manages all curriculum, resources and grades for the high school course. Students may have the option to accept or deny the college hours/transcription for the dual enrollment course. Grades for the high school course may differ from grades for the college course.

For more information about Dual Credit and Dual Enrollment, visit the Dual Credit Webpage or contact Liz Ozuna.

In SAISD, the College, Career, & Military Readiness (CCMR) Department is a collaborative team, working together with district departments, campus staff, and community stake holders, to ensure that every student is college ready and prepared for success in a globally competitive workforce. The CCMR Department provides services and resources to teachers and students in these strands:

College Readiness: TSI Math, TSI English, SAT/ACT Exams, AP Exams, IB Exams, Dual Credit & Dual Enrollment, College Prep Course, School Links

Career Readiness: Industry-Based Certifications, Special Education

Military Readiness 

For more information about CCMR, visit the CCMR Sharepoint Site or contact Johnny Vahalik.