Curriculum

Academics at TMI

TMI Episcopal is an excellent academic community. Our highly qualified and dedicated faculty, themselves lifelong learners, create a vibrant learning environment through the passionate presentation of their subjects. They take the time to promote intellectual, emotional, physical, moral, and spiritual development. As our students move through our program, they are inspired to discover their academic interests and encouraged to develop their academic passions by exploring accelerated courses and specialized electives. College Prep, Honors, and college-level Advanced Placement courses challenge TMI scholars to discover the scope of their interests and abilities.

Curriculum & Instruction

TMI’s curriculum and instructional program provides a broad spectrum of opportunities and experiences. Our Middle School (grades 6-8) curriculum encourages the holistic growth of our students. Middle School classes focus on building a firm foundation of learning skills, fundamental subject-matter knowledge, and a belief in the value of life-long learning. TMI’s Upper School (grades 9-12) curriculum builds on the Middle School experience and features demanding college-preparatory classes designed to prepare students for admission to the most competitive colleges and universities in the United States and beyond. The program features a liberal arts tradition infused with a 21st-century balance of global citizenship, stewardship, and technological competence, all designed to graduate confident servant leaders.
 
 

Comparing College Prep to Honors & AP courses

Differences between Advanced Placement (AP) and Honors, College Prep courses

While all courses at TMI prepare students for college and beyond, a few key things that differentiate our Advanced Placement (AP) and Honors courses from our standard College Prep courses are that AP/Honors courses require students to:
  • have a greater depth of understanding in the areas of study
  • achieve higher levels of analysis
  • have more sophistication in the work they produce
  • meet higher expectations as independent thinkers/learners
Ideally, students should be passionate about the topics in the AP/Honors courses that they enroll in as the pace, depth, and difficulty of the classes will be faster and greater than College Prep courses. Students in AP and Honors classes should be more invested in the material and maintain a higher focus during class. 

Key differences by subject area:

List of 6 items.

  • English

    • In Honors courses, summative assessments offer more choice in writing prompts and formative assessments are typically longer. At the 10th grade level, Honors students have summer reading, additional texts to read during the school year, and are expected to have stronger analytical skills that they display in class discussions and in written work.
    • AP students move at a much faster rate through the material, have more timed assessments in preparation for the exam, and are expected to have stronger analytical skills. 
    • Summer reading is only assigned to Honors and AP students.
  • Fine Arts

    • Visual Arts – AP and Honors students are expected to produce artwork at an increased rate and spend more time conducting independent research to develop their practice. In the Photography course and Drawing and Painting courses, students are expected to submit to exhibition opportunities throughout the year. In all advanced Visual Arts courses, students participate in critiques throughout the year, giving feedback to their peers and engaging in consistent dialogue with the group/teacher to advance their work. 
    • Performing Arts – Honors Band students perform in multiple competitions and are expected to attend practice outside of class to develop their skills. Students focus on their individual instruments while the instructor guides and teaches in a workshop-style environment.
  • Humanities

    • AP and Honors courses cover more material, move at a faster pace, involve more-difficult texts, and have a more-rigorous writing expectation. AP assessments tend to be formal tests and essays with a few projects, while College Prep courses allow more room for creative assessments.
    • In AP courses specifically, students develop and use the same skills, practices, and methods employed by historians: analyzing primary and secondary sources; developing historical arguments; making historical connections; and utilizing reasoning about comparison, causation, and continuity and change over time.
  • Mathematics

    • Advanced and Honors courses are not accelerated, but dive into the curriculum in greater depth.
    • Advanced and Honors math courses are for the motivated mathematician who enjoys critically thinking, problem-solving, and exploring various concepts.
  • Science

    • AP and Honors courses are faster paced and students are expected to pick up the material quickly. Students are also expected to be more independent in their learning and, if something doesn't make sense, students should be proactive about finding answers on their own. 
    • Course material is more complex in AP and Honors courses; not only is the pace faster, but the abstract and complex ideas are a more central theme to the class.
  • World Languages

    • AP and Honors courses are only available in language after level 3.
    • LatinLatin IV Honors serves the dual purpose of preparing students for the rigor and attention-to-detail required to be well prepared for the AP Latin course as well as providing an enrichment course for those who prefer to pursue further Latin study without the restrictions of the AP Latin exam. AP Latin prepares students for the AP Latin Caesar/Vergil exam.
    • Spanish
      • Spanish IV Honors focuses on helping students master proficiency in the Spanish language and develop critical thinking skills. The students are able to communicate more effectively in Spanish within personal and professional settings and gain a better understanding of the Hispanic culture. It also prepares students for the rigor needed to take the AP Spanish Language & Culture course and exam.
      • AP Spanish Language & Culture prepares students for the AP Spanish Language & Culture exam.
      • Spanish V Honors focuses on analyzing Spanish literature, comparing literary texts and arts in Spanish, engaging in discussions about literary texts completely in Spanish. The course is the same as the AP Spanish Literature and Culture class without the restrictions of the AP Spanish Literature & Culture exam.
      • AP Spanish Literature & Culture prepares students for the AP Spanish Literature & Culture exam.

Faculty Directory

Fully Accredited By

    • Southwestern Association of Episcopal Schools

    • Independent Schools Association of the Southwest

MISSION: TMI provides an exceptional education with values based on the teachings of Jesus Christ that challenge motivated students to develop their full potential in service and leadership.

NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS
TMI Episcopal admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin, sex, religion, and physical ability to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. The school does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin, sex, religion, and physical ability in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and financial aid programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
TMI Episcopal
20955 W. Tejas Trail
San Antonio TX 78257
phone (210) 698-7171
fax (210) 698-0715