ADVANCED PLACEMENT

Advanced Placement

The Advanced Placement (AP) Program is a cooperative educational endeavor between secondary schools and colleges and universities. Advanced Placement courses enrich the secondary school program and provide the opportunity for high school students to experience the challenge of college work and to potentially earn college credit based on their score on the AP examination. Eligible students must apply for available fee reduction waivers. Each student who matriculates in an AP course will take the formal AP examination at the conclusion of the course. In place of an administered exam, students in AP Studio Art will create an AP Exam Portfolio which will be submitted to the College Board at the end of the course. Students who take an AP course are required to complete summer work in advance of the course.

AP COURSE OFFERINGS

AP SEMINAR

This is a one credit, year-long course open for students in 10th and 11th grade and is also available to 9th graders on a case-by-case basis. By taking this course early on in their HS career, students can build a foundation of discourse skills needed to prepare them for success in future AP courses. This course is a prerequisite to AP Research, which will be offered to 11th or 12th graders and to 10th graders on a case-by-case basis. While students aren't required to take both AP Seminar and AP Research, if they earn a 3 or higher in both of these courses they earn an AP Seminar and Research Certificate™. If students earn a 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research and also earn a 3 or higher on four additional AP exams of their choosing, they earn an AP Capstone Diploma™.

The following is the AP Seminar course description provided by College Board: AP Seminar is a foundational course that engages students in cross-curricular conversations that explore the complexities of academic and real-world topics and issues by analyzing divergent perspectives. Using an inquiry framework, students practice reading and analyzing articles, research studies, and foundational literary, and philosophical texts; listening to and viewing speeches, broadcasts, and personal accounts; and experiencing artistic works and performances. Students learn to synthesize information from multiple sources, develop their own perspectives in research-based written essays, and design and deliver oral and visual presentations, both individually and as part of a team. Ultimately, the course aims to equip students with the power to analyze and evaluate information with accuracy and precision in order to craft and communication evidence-based arguments. Students will have opportunities to produce work that may meet the requirements for Expectations 1,3,5 and 8 of the Graduation Portfolio.

Visit the following link for additional information about the AP Seminar course: College Board AP Seminar Course Overview

AP RESEARCH

Prerequisite: Successful completion of AP SEMINAR

AP Research is the second course in the AP Capstone sequence. AP Seminar is a prerequisite for AP Research. This is a one credit, year-long course open for students in 10th through 12th grade.

The following is the AP Research course description provided by College Board: AP Research is designed to allow students to dive into an academic topic, problem, or issue of individual interest. Students will further develop the skills you acquired in the AP Seminar course by understanding research methods; employing ethical research practices; and accessing, analyzing, and synthesizing information as they address a research question. The course culminates in an academic paper of 4,000-5,000 words and a presentation with an oral defense during which students will answer questions about your academic paper. Through the course, students will:

  • Employ research and inquiry methodology to develop, manage, and conduct an in depth study or investigation of an area of student’s own interest, culminating in a 4,000-5,000 word paper.

  • Present (using appropriate media), and defend the research design, approach, and findings.

  • Document and reflect upon the research process and communication with mentor using a research log.

Visit the following link for additional information about the AP Research Course: College Board AP Research Course Overview.