The AP Program gives you a chance to experience college-level classes in high school and opens the door to earning college credit before you ever set foot on campus. You will get to dig deeper into subjects you love while building the skills and confidence you need to succeed in college.

Our district offers the following AP Courses: AP Biology, AP Calculus AB, AP Chemistry, AP Computer Science Principles, AP Economics MACRO, AP Environmental Science, AP Language & Composition, AP Literature & Composition, AP US History, AP World History, AP Physics, AP Psychology, AP Research, AP Seminar, AP Spanish Language & Culture, AP Statistics, and AP Studio Art each of which culminates in an optional exam in May. If you score a 3 or higher (on a scale of 1-5) you could earn college credit, skip intro-level courses, or both at thousands of U.S. colleges and universities. Earning credit in high school means paying for fewer credits in college. It also opens up your schedule, allowing you to take more electives, pursue a second major, or study abroad.

Regardless of your AP Exam score, taking AP courses can have a positive impact on your college applications. Admissions officers know college faculty play a big role in developing AP courses, so they know students who took AP pushed themselves to take challenging, college-level courses. This is something colleges like to see.

The Department of Accelerated Programs is committed to enhancing the Advanced Placement program in the district. As a result, we restructured the AP process, expanded course offerings, and identified more students for Advanced Placement coursework, as well as offered professional development through the College Board to existing and new AP teachers. 

In keeping with the district’s mission of preparing students for college and career, select high schools began to offer the Advanced Placement (AP) Capstone Diploma Program at the beginning of the 2019-20 school year. These schools are among the approximately 1,800 schools worldwide that offer the program which allows students to develop research, collaboration, and communication skills to help them achieve success in college and in their careers.

The AP Capstone Diploma Program consists of two courses taken in sequence: AP Seminar and AP Research. Students who score a 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research and on four additional AP exams of their choosing earn the AP Capstone Diploma. This signifies outstanding academic achievement and attainment of college-level academic and research skills. Students who score a 3 or higher in both AP Seminar and AP Research (but not on four additional AP Exams) earn the AP Seminar and Research Certificate.

AP Seminar, typically taken in 10th or 11th grade, is a project-based learning course. Students choose and evaluate complex topics. They identify credibility and bias in sources. They develop arguments in support of a recommendation. Official AP Seminar assessments include research reports, written arguments, and presentations completed during the academic year.

AP Research is also a project-based course. Students design, execute, present, and defend a yearlong research-based investigation on a topic of individual interest. They build on skills developed in AP Seminar by learning how to understand research methodology and employ ethical research practices. They also collect, analyze, and synthesize information to contribute to academic research. Each student’s official AP Research score is based on their academic paper, presentation, and oral defense.