Advanced Courses at Kennedy

“I believe in an America where every child is educated not according to his means or his race, but according to his capacity.”

~John F. Kennedy

Purpose of Kennedy’s Advanced Programs

• Kennedy advanced programs are designed to:
• meet the individual needs of students by developing their academic and creative talents.
• provide many pathways to post-secondary success.

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• Pathways:
• Honors courses
• AP courses
• Concurrent Enrollment courses
• Capstone Project
• Project Lead The Way (PLTW)
• Career & College Academy

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Honors Courses

• Offer a challenging option when an AP or concurrent enrollment option is unavailable.
• Some examples:
• Honors Biology
• Honors Math courses (Honors Geometry, etc.)
• Honors Literature courses (Honors World Lit., etc.)

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What is the AP Program?

Advanced Placement Program^® (AP^®) courses are college-level courses offered in high school. AP courses reflect what is taught in top introductory college courses.

At the end of course, students take AP Exams—standardized exams that measure how well students have mastered college-level course work.

Students who do well (3,4,5) on AP Exams can earn FREE credit and/or placement into advanced courses in college.

Source: www.collegeboard.org/

Why take AP?

More than 90% of 4-year colleges give students credit, advanced placement or both on the basis of AP Exam scores.

“One of the best standard predictors of academic success at Harvard is performance on Advanced Placement Examinations.”

—William Fitzsimmons, Dean of Admissions & Financial Aid, Harvard University

AP Courses = Weighted GPA

• B in normal class = 3.0 GPA
• B in an AP class = 3.8 GPA

Concurrent Enrollment

• Kennedy teachers are Normandale Community College (KHS only program).
• Students can take courses at Kennedy, earning credit at both Kennedy and at NCC simultaneously.

Concurrent Courses = Weighted GPA

• B in normal class = 3.0 GPA
• B in an CE class = 3.8 GPA

Concurrent Enrollment Courses

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• Honors World Literature - 10th Grade English (Interdisciplinary and Regular)
• Honors Pre-Calculus
• College Algebra and Probability
• Statway Math
• Guitar 2
• African-American Literature
• Intro. to Education
• Education Technology
• Multicultural Education
• World Politics
• Social Media Marketing
• Honors PE (PE10)
• Honors Health

Grade 10 Honors/AP Offerings

• Social Studies
• AP World History
• AP World History Interdisciplinary w/ Honors World Literature *

• Math
• Honors Geometry
• Honors Algebra 2
• Honors Pre-Calculus*

• English
• Honors World Literature*
• Honors World Literature Interdisciplinary w/ AP World History *

• Science
• AP Biology
• Honors Biology

• Physical Education
• Honors Physical Education*
• Honors Health*

* = Concurrent Enrollment

Grade 11 AP/Honors Offerings

• Social Studies
• AP U.S. History
• AP U.S. History Interdisciplinary w/ AP English Language and Composition

• Math
• AP Calculus AB
• AP Calculus BC
• AP Statistics
• College Algebra & Probability*
• Honors Pre-Calculus*

• English
• AP English Language and Composition Interdisciplinary w/ AP U.S. History
• AP English Language and Composition

• Science
• AP Chemistry
• AP Physics
• AP Biology

* = Concurrent Enrollment

Grade 12 AP/Honors Offerings

• Social Studies: (You need 1 Government & 1 Economics)
• Economics:
• AP Economics (2 tris)
• Government:
• AP Government (2 tris)

• Math
• AP Calculus AB
• AP Calculus BC
• AP Statistics
• College Algebra & Probability*
• Honors Pre-Calculus*
• Statway Math*

• English
• AP English Literature & Composition

• Science
• AP Physics
• AP Chemistry
• AP Biology

* = Concurrent Enrollment

AP & Honors Electives

• Art:
• AP Studio Art 2D (11-12)
• AP Studio Art 3D (11-12)
• AP Studio Art Drawing (11-12)
• AP Art History (11-12)

• Social Studies and STEM:
• AP Psychology (11-12)

• World Language:
• College in the Schools: Japanese—College credit at U of M
• Upper level language courses (take the CLEP exam)

• STEM:
• AP Computer Science Principles

Math Pathways: All Grades

Advanced Math Options:

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AP Calculus (AB or BC), AP Statistics, College Algebra and Probability, Statway Math

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Project Lead the Way (PLTW)

• What is it?
• Engineering classes and programming.
• Bring practical application and hands-on classes to students.
• Classes have a weighted GPA and students could earn college credit.

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• What is it?
• Students can take courses at the Career & College Academy (at Lincoln HS), earning credit at both Kennedy and at the college simultaneously.
• Pathways offering concurrent enrollment:
• IT Courses- college credit
• Health Professions - college credit
• Nursing Assistant Registry - certification and college credits
• Criminal Justice / Law Enforcement - college credit
• Construction Apprenticeship Preparedness - partner with trades unions
• Cosmetology / Nail Technology - Hours towards licensure
• Motion Control Technology - @ HTC (3 periods, all year)
• Automotive Technology - @ HTC (3 periods, all year)
• Marine, Motorsports & Outdoor Power Engines - @HTC (3 periods, all year)

Senior Capstone Project

• This is an elective option for high achieving seniors.
• It engages students in a project/experience that focuses on an interest, career path or academic pursuit.
• Students will work with a community advisor and faculty coordinator to develop an in-depth project, reflective portfolio, community service and/or internship.
• Students will demonstrate the results of their study to a committee at the end of the term.

Enrich Beyond Curriculum

• Student Newspaper
• Student Government
• Yearbook
• National Honor Society
• Business Club/DECA
• Diversity Club
• World Language Clubs
• Many Fine Arts Activities
• And much more . . .

• Speech
• Debate
• Quiz Bowl
• Theatre Arts
• Math Team
• Science Olympiad
• Robotics
• Athletics
• Clubs

Questions?

Advanced Programs or Registration Questions: See Your Counselor