Advanced Placement: Advanced Placement (AP) courses are designed to challenge highly motivated students who have demonstrated exceptional academic ability and who wish to study at the college level. The College Board provides tests for all AP courses and these tests are administered during the month of May.
Students should register to take the AP exam in advance and pay the required fee. Information is available in the College and Career Counseling Department. Please note, if this fee will cause a financial hardship, students should contact their school counselor for information about financial assistance.
In order to be considered for college credit or college standing, students must satisfactorily complete these tests. Students enrolled in AP courses should check with the college of their choice to receive information concerning the college’s policy regarding Advanced Placement credit.
Listed below you will find the AP courses which are offered at Pelham High School. Please be reminded that only courses which have adequate enrollment will run. However, students may take AP courses through the Virtual Learning Academy. Students are encouraged to discuss taking AP courses with their parents, school counselors, and teachers.
AP Biology
AP Calculus
AP Chemistry
AP English Literature and Composition
AP Environmental Science
AP Statistics
AP Studio Art
Honors: An honors course provides a more rigorous program for the 4-year competitive college-bound student. Students who elect this option are expected to have strong communication, writing, and thinking skills. The student is expected to meet all expectations of Level 1, and is expected to:
Complete all required assignments in a timely and independent manner
Participate actively in class discussions and written assignments
Read above grade level and complete significant independent readings
Demonstrate the motivation to accomplish all assignments to the teacher’s level of expectation
Complete many types of research projects, including a variety of analytical and expository writings
Write for a variety of purposes, in a variety of modes
Demonstrate superior competence in reading, writing, listening and speaking
Depending on student requests, an Honors level to a course may be offered as a separate course. "Honors" will be cited on the student’s transcript. (NOTE: Students may not opt out of an Honors Program once they have decided to participate in the honors program, unless they have received permission from the Principal.)
A Level 1 course provides an accelerated program for the college-bound student. Students in Level 1 courses are expected to:
● Participate actively in the class discussions and written assignments
● Read at or above grade level and complete some independent reading
● Commit to independent outside readings
● Think, write, and discuss critically
● Engage fully in both individual and group activities
A course without a leveling designation is designed for the college-and-career-bound student. Students in these courses are expected to:
Enhance their college readiness skills through writing, reading comprehension, and vocabulary
Read at grade level and complete independent readings
Participate actively in class discussions and written assignments
Engage in research and analysis of specific topics