Frankfort School District 157-C Advanced/Honors Placement Process

Frankfort School District 157-C has an expectation of every teacher to differentiate the curriculum, process and materials to meet individual learning needs and provide a challenging experience for all learners. Students that are identified as needing challenge beyond what is offered in the core curriculum will be considered for an alternative placement. District 157-C offers advanced English Language Arts/ELA classes in grades 3rd through 5th, Advanced Math in grade 5, Honors ELA in grades 6th through 8th and Honors Math in grades 6th through 8th. All of these classes replace the core ELA or Math class for qualifying students.

Honors ELA (grades 6-8)

Students who qualify for Honors English Language Arts (ELA) will meet with their team’s Honors ELA teacher every day during the ELA period. Honors ELA curriculum includes learning activities in reading, writing, speaking, listening and word study that add to and extend beyond the core ELA curriculum. In addition, Honors ELA students will read an additional extended text each quarter, which generally has greater text complexity and occasionally more mature or complex themes than the core extended text. Honors ELA students will engage in more reading and writing opportunities throughout each quarter, as pacing is faster in the Honors ELA curriculum. Grade weights in Honors are the same as in core classes. This is not a weighted course.

Honors ELA Placement Criteria Grades 6th, 7th & 8th 

Students who meet one of the following options will be placed into Honors ELA in grades 6/7/8 

• Option 1: IAR ELA Performance Level 5
• Option 2: FastBridge Reading Assessment 85% or above on any one school benchmark percentile (Fall, Winter, Spring) and ELA Outcome Assessment “A” average

Honors Mathematics (grades 6-8)

Students who qualify for Honors Mathematics will meet with their team’s Honors Mathematics teacher every day during the Mathematics Block. The Honors Mathematics curriculum includes all of the present grade level standards in addition to approximately one quarter of the next grade level's standards. All current grade level standards will be covered in the first three quarters of the year and the next grade level standards will be covered in fourth quarter. With the increased rigor and pacing, Honors Mathematics students are expected to prove, justify, and expand their in-depth understanding well beyond rote memorization. It is expected that students in an Honors Mathematics course are working at an ‘Exceeds’ level on all classroom, district, and state assessments and assignments. Grade weights in Honors are the same as in core classes. This is not a weighted course.

Honors Math Placement Criteria Grades 6th, 7th & 8th 

Students who meet one of the following options will be placed into Honors Math in grades 6/7/8

• Option 1: IAR Math Performance Level 5
• Option 2: FastBridge Math Assessment 85% or above on any one school benchmark percentile (Fall, Winter, Spring) and Math Outcome Assessment “A” average

Advanced/Honors Identification Process

The identification process for District 157-C takes many factors into account in order to determine eligibility for Advanced/Honors placement. Multiple indicators of a student’s academic performance are considered. The chart below outlines the different options for Advanced/Honors placement in ELA and Math and which criteria will be considered. All criteria is reviewed at the end of each school year. 

Once a student is placed in an Advanced or Honors class, that student will remain in the same placement for the remainder of his/her time at 157-C, unless parents request otherwise.