AP/Honors Program

Information

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What Does AP Stand For?

• Advanced Placement - a program run by College Board
• AP courses are college-level courses offered in high school - they reflect what is taught in introductory college courses.
• Every AP course has an AP exam or portfolio requirement. A score of 3 or higher can earn a student college credit at some universities.

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What does AP stand for?

• Develop academic skills to better prepare for college.
• Dig deeper into subjects that interest them and learn to tap their creativity and problem-solving skills to address course challenges
• Tells college admission officials that students are challenging themselves and preparing for college
• 85% of selective universities report that a student’s AP experience favorably impacts admission decisions

Why take an AP class?

What does AP stand for?

What is the difference between AP and Honors?

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• Both are great ways to challenge your student and both look favorable on college applications
• The main difference between the two has to do with college credit: AP tests provide the chance to receive college credit, it is not a guarantee.
• Both Honors and AP courses carry potential for weighted GPA
• to 4 classes, with no more than 2 classes from 10^th grade. You may take additional AP & Honors classes but the Honors/GPA bump (for UC’s and CSU’s) will only be applied to 4 classes.
• C’s & CSU’s limit the gpa bump you can receive up to 4 classes, with no more than 2 classes from 10^th grade. You may take additional AP & Honors classes but the Honors/GPA bump (for UC’s and CSU’s) will only be applied to 4 classes.

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What does AP stand for?

How many AP/Honors classes will count for college credit?

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• UC’s & CSU’s limit the GPA bump and you can receive up to 4 classes, with no more than 2 classes from 10^th grade.
• You may take additional AP & Honors classes, but the Honors/GPA bump (for UC’s and CSU’s) will only be applied to 4 classes.
• UC’s & CSU’s limit the gpa bump you can receive up to 4 classes, with no more than 2 classes from 10^th grade. You may take additional AP & Honors classes but the Honors/GPA bump (for UC’s and CSU’s) will only be applied to 4 classes.
• C’s & CSU’s limit the gpa bump you can receive up to 4 classes, with no more than 2 classes from 10^th grade. You may take additional AP & Honors classes but the Honors/GPA bump (for UC’s and CSU’s) will only be applied to 4 classes.

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What does AP stand for?

• Any student who meets the criteria and is academically prepared and motivated to take college-level courses (need B or better in most pre-requisite courses).
• Students looking to apply to 4 year colleges or want the experience of a college level course
• Students willing to commit to a year long class - cannot switch in or out

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Who can take an AP/Honors class?

What does AP stand for?

How many AP/Honors classes can I take?

• College Park High School recommends a maximum of 3 AP/Honors classes in a single year
• Time constraints: plan for additional homework and studying time each day
• Consider extracurricular activities, employment, and other commitments
• Colleges look at much more than just the number of AP courses

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What does AP stand for?

How many AP/Honors classes can I take?

In short, the goal is to challenge and enrich your high school curriculum, not to spread yourself too thin.

What does AP stand for?

Students who enroll in an AP class are expected to:

• Be independent learners, willing to read, learn, ask questions, pursue outside reading and research, integrate and discuss material from diverse sources.
• Meet any prerequisites prior to enrolling in an AP course as outlined in the course catalog.
• Spend a significantly greater amount of time on work outside of class compared to peers in non-AP classes.

What does AP stand for?

What About Pressure and Stress?

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What does this mean for you?

• Have an honest conversation about how many AP classes, extracurriculars, hours of employments, etc. that you can fit into a 24 hour day with time set aside for sleep, family time and down time.
• Set hours aside for studying or form a study group
• Protect your sleep! Unplug and turn off the cell phone, or keep it with parents/guardians past 10 pm

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What does AP stand for?

Quality over Quantity

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It is better to have A’s and B’s with minimal or no AP/Honors courses rather than overloading schedules with multiple AP/Honors courses and potentially receiving D’s and F’s.

AP/Honors classes are not required for college admission!

What does AP stand for?

What About AP Exams?

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• AP exams are administered nationwide on specific dates and times during the first 2 weeks of May
• Exams are typically 2-3 hours
• Colleges and universities may give credit or advanced placement for qualifying AP Exam scores, NOT AP course grades.
• AP charges a fee for exams - the current fee is $103 per exam
• Students who qualify for a fee reduction pay $5 per exam (free and reduced lunch program)

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What does AP stand for?

AP & Honors level classes offered at College Park

(All require a completed AP/Honors Contract)

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• AP Biology
• French V (Honors) (level 4)
• French IV (AP) (level 5)
• Spanish V (Honors) (level 4)
• Spanish IV (AP) (level 5)
• German V (Honors) (level 4)
• German IV (AP) (level 5)
• AP Computer Science A
• AP Computer Science Principles
• Human Body Systems (Honors)
• Medical Intervention (Honors)
• AP Pre-Calculus (replaces Pre-Calc Honors)
• AP Statistics

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• AP Psychology
• AP English Language
• AP English Literature
• AP Calculus AB
• AP Calculus BC
• AP Environmental Science
• AP Chemistry
• AP Physics
• AP World History
• AP United States History
• AP Art 2D Design
• AP Music Theory

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AP/Honors Contract

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• Students must complete the AP/Honors Contract in order to apply for an AP class.
• Each student applying to one or more AP/Honors courses must fill out the Google Form.
• By submitting this form, it is understood that the parent/guardian and student are agreeing to this contract and the items that it contains. If this form is not turned in, students can not enroll in an AP/Honors course.
• All AP/Honors courses are year-long and students are expected to remain in the class for the entire course.

Where can I find more info about AP courses?

College Park High School website

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Counseling/College & Career Tab

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2024-2025 Course Cards

It is the student’s responsibility to check the website to find out about AP/Honors summer homework

(if there is any).

More information about this will be posted to the website and shared out by the principal at a later date.

AP Class Overview link

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This powerpoint will describe each AP/Honors class in detail

Please check out

College Board’s website

for more information