Course Options and Advanced Opportunities
AP, Pre-AP & Honors Opportunities
MAHS students are offered opportunities to enroll in advanced courses. For these courses a special 110 weighted grade is used. These courses include AP Language and Composition, AP Literature and Composition, AP Government and Politics, AP United States History, AP Psychology, AP Environmental Science, French IV, German IV, Spanish IV. The Calculus course is taught in conjunction with the University of Pittsburgh and may be taken for college credit.
AP Social Studies Courses: Grades 9–12
MASD’s Advanced Placement Social Studies courses use college-level instructional resources to support students in developing advanced content knowledge, critical thinking, reading, writing, and analytical skills. Students engage with historical documents, case studies, political concepts, research, data, and discipline-specific vocabulary as they prepare for AP-level coursework and exams.
Resources Used
- AP World History - McGraw Hill: Traditions & Encounters
- AP Government - McGraw Hill: American Democracy Now
- AP U.S. History - Pearson: By the People
- AP Psychology - BFW Publishing: Myers’ Psychology for AP
Parent/Caregiver Resource: College Board AP Courses and Exams
Pre-AP English 9–10: SpringBoard
SpringBoard English Language Arts supports MASD students in grades 9–10 in developing advanced reading, writing, speaking, listening, and analytical skills through rigorous, inquiry-based instruction. Students engage with literature, informational texts, collaborative discussions, and evidence-based writing tasks designed to prepare them for advanced coursework, including Advanced Placement English courses. The program emphasizes critical thinking, academic vocabulary, close reading, and real-world communication skills.
Parent/Caregiver Resource: SpringBoard English Language Arts Overview
AP English Language and Composition (11) & AP English Literature and Composition (12)
MASD’s AP English courses provide students with college-level experiences in reading, writing, analysis, discussion, and argumentation. In AP English Language and Composition, students focus on rhetorical analysis, nonfiction texts, argument writing, and synthesis of sources. In AP English Literature and Composition, students engage in close reading and analysis of fiction, poetry, and drama while developing analytical writing skills grounded in textual evidence. Both courses emphasize critical thinking, academic discussion, and preparation for Advanced Placement exams and future college coursework.
Parent/Caregiver Resource: College Board AP English Courses Overview
Dual Enrollment Opportunities
MASD is proud to offer a variety of Dual Enrollment opportunities that allow eligible high school students to earn both high school and college credit while still enrolled in high school. Through partnerships with Community College of Allegheny County and Seton Hill University, students can experience the rigor of college-level coursework, explore potential career pathways, and get a head start on their postsecondary goals.
Dual Enrollment courses provide students with the opportunity to strengthen their academic skills, reduce future college costs, and build confidence in a college learning environment. Course offerings, eligibility requirements, tuition information, and registration procedures may vary by institution and program.
Important Documents/Links
Career & Technical Education Offerings
The McKeesport Area Technology Center (MATC) offers a wide range of career and technical education opportunities for 10th through 12th grade students in the McKeesport Area School District. Its mission is to provide high-quality, hands-on programs that prepare students for both immediate employment and further education by integrating academic skills with practical training.
Contact
Dr. Jamie Lusebrink
Executive Director
Phone: 412-664-3604
MATC Office: 412-664-3658
MATC Fax: 412-664-3784