AP & Honors Courses
Should I Take an AP/Honors Class?
In a short two minute video, Challenge Success Co-Founder Dr. Denise Pope offers questions and considerations for students and parents to ask themselves to help make this decision.
Honors (H) and Advanced Placement (AP) courses provide an opportunity for students to pursue a more rigorous course of study. The philosophy of Oak Park High School is to encourage students to extend themselves by taking the most rigorous courses that they can succeed in. More than 50% of our students take one or more honors or advanced placement course during their high school career. Eligibility for honors and advanced placement courses includes a strong passion for the course content and previous evidence of exemplary work in the subject matter. Prerequisites for all courses are detailed in the course descriptions on their resepective subject page (linked in the left hand menu). AP courses, which follow a college-level course of study, prepare students to take an exam sponsored by the College Board in May. Many colleges and universities grant college credit for courses taken in high school if the student passes the exam. However, it is important to note that individual colleges and universities determine their own policies for granting college credits for AP classes.
AP & Honors Courses Offered at OPHS
Characteristics of an AP/Honors Student:
Independent and self-motivated learners dedicated to school work
Committed to homework and extensive reading and research
Responsible: able to multitask, to prioritize activities, to make deadlines
Prepared and organized - has already demonstrated strong study skills and time management skills
Strong skills in reading and writing
Have the ability to grasp new concepts at a rigorous pace without much intervention
Why Take An AP or Honors Class?
The AP/Honors experience is not for every student. Before choosing to enroll in an AP/Honors course, consider these factors:
Your past performance in the subject area - If a student has always excelled at science, AP/Honors Chemistry may be a great idea. On the other hand, if they tend to struggle or takes considerable time to grasp concepts in math, an AP/Honors math class might be too much to add into a full schedule.
Your skills and intellectual capabilities - AP/Honors courses in the humanities-English, history, philosophy, etc. require heavy amounts of reading and writing. Is your student prepared for long, difficult reading assignments, multiple essays, and in-depth research papers?
Your schedule - A student who plays sports year-round, holds leadership positions in one or more extracurricular activities, and/or has a part-time job may find it difficult to meet the sizeable obligations of an AP/Honors class.
Your GPA - No student should take an AP/Honors course if it's likely to lower his or her overall GPA. College admissions officers want to see students taking challenging courses, but they also want to see strong grades. If your student is worried about maintaining decent grades in an AP/Honors course, it might be wise to consider staying with a course level they are more accustomed to having.