Advanced Academics: Middle School

Exam for Acceleration

According to Texas State Board of Education rules, school districts must offer Examinations for Acceleration (EA) at every grade level and for every subject area offered in grades K-12. To help schools serve this mandate, the University of Texas and Texas Tech University Distance Education Centers offer a wide array of exams for grades K-12. Leander ISD uses these resources to ensure standardization and objectivity of the exams. Exam for Acceleration allows Leander ISD students who have mastered the content and skills of a particular grade level or course without direct instruction to advance to the next level so they will be more appropriately challenged. When given at designated times in the district, these exams are available at no cost to eligible students. For more information, please contact the campus counselors.

More information about Exam for Acceleration

Advanced

Students who wish to take the higher-level academic classes that best prepare them for college benefit greatly from advanced-course preparation in middle school.

The Advanced courses that are available to Leander ISD middle school students include Advanced Math, Algebra I, Geometry, Language Arts and 8th-grade Social Studies.

PACE Math

LISD’s middle school PACE (Programs for Advancement, Challenge and Enrichment) and Advanced Mathematics Programs provides challenge and deep understanding for students who have shown a need for acceleration in the area of mathematics and prepares them for success in upper level mathematics courses.

More information about the PACE Math Qualifying Process

QUEST-G/T

In grades 6-8, QUEST-G/T students participate in the QUEST-G/T Studies class. The QUEST-G/T curriculum is designed to provide challenging learning opportunities for identified students. QUEST-G/T students receive advanced instruction through an interdisciplinary gifted curriculum, utilizing gifted teaching strategies.

More information on QUEST-G/T

Support

Early College High School January 20, 2022
The Early College HS initiative is an open-enrollment program that blends college and high school coursework, enabling students to earn up to two years of college credit (60 hours), tuition-free, while enrolled in high school. English Presentation Spanish Presentation Application Applicants must be current LISD 8th-grade students in good standing to be advanced to the […]
QUEST-G/T: Testing May 21, 2021
Spring 2022 Secondary Students GT Referral Form – Complete by Friday, March 24, 2023 to be included in the spring screening process. Those that qualify for additional testing will be notified the week of April 3rd and will be assessed at the end of April. Notification of results will be sent before the end of […]
QUEST-G/T: Screening, Assessment, Identification Process March 6, 2021
Students may be referred for the gifted and talented program at any time by teachers, counselors, parents, or other interested persons. The district provides at least one screening and identification and assessment opportunity once per school year (EHBB Local). Screening as well as identification and assessment is a multi-step process and involves both quantitative and […]

News

LISD Seniors Named National Merit Semifinalists September 27, 2022
21 seniors from High Schools across Leander ISD have been recognized as Semifinalists in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program. The 2022-2023 National Merit Semifinalists from Leander ISD are: • Sahir Ahmed, Vandegrift High School• Arnav Batra, Cedar Park High School• Bryan Bui, Leander High School• Anamkia Chinnakonda, Vandegrift High School• Vivian Coleman, Cedar Park […]
Leander ISD considers new Schools of Choice August 25, 2022
Leander ISD continues on its journey in expanding its portfolio of school options and opportunities to our students and families. In coordination with the long-range facilities planning board committee, a cross-functional group of district and campus leaders met to research possible schools of choice for Leander ISD. A School of Choice is a public school […]
Early College High School opens as newest School of Choice in LISD August 4, 2022
Early College High School (ECHS) joins New Hope High School and the Virtual Learning Academy as the newest School of Choice offering in Leander ISD. The school is an open enrollment program that blends college and high school coursework, enabling students to earn an associate’s degree (up to 60 hours or two years of college […]