Advanced Placement (AP) and Pre-AP

The Advanced Placement Program (AP) is a cooperative educational endeavor between secondary schools and colleges and universities. Since its inception in 1955, the program has provided high school students with the opportunity to take college-level courses in a high school setting. Students who participate in the program will gain college-level skills. AP teachers follow course guidelines developed and published by the College Board. To enroll in an AP course, students and parents are required to sign an agreement accepting the work load of the rigorous curriculum and acknowledge that schedules will not be changed. Students enrolled in an AP course will be required to take the AP exam for that course at the end of the course. AP grades are weighted as follows for the class of 2026: .5 completion of course and AP exam + .5 passing score on the AP Exam = 1.0 possible point. (For graduating classes 2023-2025 1 point will be weighed upon completion of the class) AP grades are the only weighted grades on a student’s transcript. There will be an AP meeting for students and parents in the spring to go over course information.

Pre-AP prepares a growing number of students, especially those traditionally under-represented in AP courses, for the challenges offered by the Advanced Placement Program. The goal of Pre-AP programs is to prepare students for high academic standards, greater inclusion, increased communication, coordination, enthusiasm, and empowerment. It also creates closer ties between AP courses and the courses preceding them, and the wider dissemination of successful teaching strategies.

Listed below are just a few benefits of AP and Pre-AP coursework:

• Students will gain college-level analytical, communication and study skills as well as academic confidence.
• Students learn a subject in greater depth.
• Students demonstrate to colleges their willingness to undertake a challenging curriculum.
• Students can earn college credit and or advanced standing at over 90% of U.S. colleges and. universities if they successfully pass an AP examination.
• Students can gain national recognition.