Selecting the right AP course

AP® courses provide rigorous and challenging studies for highly able and potentially high-achieving students who are capable or motivated to pursue rigorous and challenging instruction. The AP Program offers college-level courses and exams that students can take in high school.  

Selecting an AP Course That is Right for YOU!

AP® isn't just for juniors and seniors. Some of the most popular courses are often taken by 9th and 10th graders. Below you'll find a list of the AP courses offered at New Hanover High School for each grade level. There are many factors to consider when deciding which AP courses you should take. The types of courses, when to take them, and the amount of college-level work a student may be ready for varies. While the AP Program doesn’t require high school students to be at a specific grade level for a specific AP course, some courses are recommended before others. Visit the course pages below to review any recommended prerequisites, which are other courses you should consider taking before registering for a specific AP course. Be sure to check with your school counselor or AIG Specialist to confirm the AP courses that are right for you. Are you a current sophomore who received an AP Potential Letter? Click Here to understand why certain AP courses were listed on your AP Potential Letter.  For the Lyceum Academy AP Course sequence click Here.

9th Grade

• *AP Computer Science Principles (As part of the Project Excite Program)

• AP U.S. Government and Politics

10th Grade

• *AP Computer Science Principles (As part of the Project Excite Program)

• AP Human Geography

• AP Psychology

• AP Statistics

• AP U.S. Government and Politics

11th Grade

• AP 2-D Art and Design

• AP Biology 

• AP Calculus AB 

• *AP Computer Science Principles (As part of the Project Excite Program)

• AP Chemistry 

• AP English Language and Composition

• AP Environmental Science 

• AP Human Geography

• AP Physics 1

• AP PreCalculus

• AP Psychology

• AP Statistics

• AP U.S. Government and Politics

• AP U.S. History

• AP World History 

12th Grade

• AP 2-D Art and Design

• AP Biology 

• AP Calculus AB 

• AP Chemistry 

• AP English Literature and Composition

• AP Environmental Science 

• AP Human Geography

• AP Physics 1

• AP PreCalculus

• AP Psychology

• AP Statistics

• AP U.S. Government and Politics

• AP U.S. History

• AP World History 

• AP Statistics

Next Steps

• Schedule time with your school counselor or AIG Specialist to find out which AP courses are available and discuss how to select the courses that are best for you.

• Review the course and exam descriptions of the AP courses available to you.

• If you’ve taken the SAT®, PSAT/NMSQT®, PSAT™ 10, or PSAT™ 8/9, your score report includes information about which AP courses you may be successful in. Learn more about AP Potential™ and how to view your personalized course recommendations.

• Read about the power of taking one AP course.  

• Use this tool to match college majors and careers with the AP courses that can help you get there.

• Use this tool to learn whether a college you’re interested in offers credit or placement for an AP course.