High School is not pass/fail to the next grade like schools you have been in in the past. State graduation requirements could change from year to year, so we will not change you classification, you will stay with this class all the way through high school. If we change your classification, we could possibly have different graduation requirements.
Instead, you are earning credits in high school. In the state of New Mexico, you need 24 credits to graduate and you will spend the next 4 years earning them. If you fail classes, you don’t earn credits, but you still stay part of your graduating class. 4 years from now, if you don’t have 24 credits, you will not graduate.
Every year, students ask us if they passed to the next grade. High school is about earning credits, not passing on to the next grade.
Advanced Placement (AP)® is a program of the College Board. Students in AP courses do college-level work in high school classes. At the end of the year, students can take the corresponding AP exam. When students earn a score of 3 or higher (on a 5-point scale), they may qualify for college credit.
AP Classes AP classes are taught by high school teachers on high school campuses (or online) during the regular school day. Some schools may have pre-requisites for students who wish to enroll in AP classes. Some schools offer students weighted GPA scores for AP classes, but the course work itself does not qualify for college credit.
AP Exams All public colleges and universities in the state of New Mexico guarantee college credit to students who earn a 3, 4, or 5 on an AP exam. Thousands of institutions of higher education across the country and around the world also grant college credit for AP exams.
AP exams take place in May. The courses are designed to prepare students to succeed on the exam, but students may take an AP exam without having completed the course. Most students take the AP exam at their own high school campus. The exams are scored on a scale from 1 to 5, last for two to three hours, and consist of both multiple-choice and written questions.
Students must pay a fee to take an AP exam. In 2020, most* exams are $94. The College Board reduces the fee for students whose households qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and the New Mexico Public Education Department pays an additional portion of their exam fee so that qualified students only pay $3 per exam. For more information, see the Fee Reduction Program.
*Additional fees apply to AP Capstone, canceled exams, and exams requested after the November 15 deadline.
Benefits of Taking an AP Course Although students can expect that AP classes are more rigorous than regular high school classes in the same subject, they are worth the effort for those willing to try. Besides potentially earning college credit, just a few of the many reasons to take AP are:
AP classes provide a challenging and engaging environment where students get a taste of college work, boost college skills, and increase their confidence.
AP students are more likely to be accepted by the college of their choice.
AP students are more likely to graduate from college in four years.
Dual Credit is a statewide program by which eligible high school and home-schooled students can receive high school credits and college credits for taking approved college courses.
Common App Step-by-Step Guide that walks students step-by-step through each question of the Common Application, including why it’s asked and how to best answer. Here is the link https://www.standoutcollegeprep.com/common-app-guide/