Honors courses - American Education

A group of secondary school courses reserved for the highest academic achievers. Usually limited to subjects required for entrance to four-year colleges, honors courses cover the same materials as conventional courses, but in greater depth, breadth and degree of complexity and difficulty. Enrollment in each course is usually limited to college- bound students with high previous grades in that subject and high scores on standardized achievement, aptitude and intelligence tests. The honors program at most public high schools includes English, mathematics, history, the natural sciences and modern languages, and is usually a track (see TRACKING) within a track, dividing students within the broad academic program into those planning to apply to fouryear colleges and those planning to attend twoyear colleges or enter the job market.