The AP Program at PTHS

At Pequannock Township High School, we are proud to offer a wide-array of Advanced Placement courses for students with diverse interests. There are many benefits when taking AP courses from preparing each student for the pacing and rigors of college coursework, the chance to look deeper into a topic of interest, to earning college credit.

Take a few minutes to explore our AP Courses and hear from the teachers and some students who have taken them.

Benefits of AP Courses

According to the College Board, participation in Advanced Placement courses can help students by:

building skills and confidence. AP students must learn how to work independently and manage their time effectively in order to balance their course work, jobs, and/or sports and other activities. These skills are necessary for success in college and in the workplace.
getting into college. Taking AP classes demonstrates your dedication to engaging in rigorous academic study and coursework. 85% of colleges and universities report that taking AP courses positively impacts college admission decisions.
succeeding in college. Due to the rigorous nature of the coursework, students who engage in AP courses and the test, are better prepared for the demands and rigor of college material and are more prepared than their non-AP peers.
saving time and money. In many schools, students earning 3, 4, or 5 on an AP exam can result in being awarded with college credits, can result in skipping introductory courses, and can fulfill college graduation requirements sooner.

Source: AP Central, College Board

Finding YOUR Potential

While the term "AP" sounds daunting and unattainable, we believe that engaging in this challenging coursework IS WITHIN YOUR GRASP!!!

If you're considering AP US History, you should also consider AP Language & Composition. Why? Because these two courses have a tremendous amount of content overlap and taking both courses simultaneously will help you with the other class. The writing in Language & Composition will help you in APUSH, and the content in APUSH will help you with AP Language.
Computer Science Principles is not a class about computers, rather it's a class about logical thinking and design processes. These thinking skills are found in every profession! This is a course that College Board recommends for every student!
AP Psychology is an excellent course for those interested in taking a AP before leaving HS and for those students with interest in people and how they think, behave, react, etc. Basically, how people tick! This is also a course that College Board recommends for all students!
In every aspect of real-life applications, data is everywhere! Analytics drives decisions in today's workplaces from banking, finance, marketing, sales, to operations - just to name a few. Consider taking AP Statistics to give you a leg up on understanding how data influences today's workplace.
AP Physics and AP Calculus should be taken if you're interested in pursuing a science based course of study in college. What better way to start your pursuit of a Bachelor's in Science than taking these two courses!

See our courses!

Things to Consider

Yet, the decision when selecting AP Course(s) requires thoughtful consideration of your short and long-term academic interests and your time commitments. Before signing up for AP classes, consider the following:

Take courses you will enjoy and that have purpose for you! Taking any course in which you have little interest or find very difficult may not produce a positive experience for you. The demands of AP courses will require that you immerse yourself in the course of study throughout the year. While taking more AP Courses may sound beneficial, if your interest is not there, you may be reluctant to do the work. Poor grades, even in an AP class, will not positively influence college admissions officials. In other words, if writing is not your idea of fun, AP History or AP Literature might not be for you. If you enjoy and excel in Mathematics, AP Physics and Calculus are more aligned to your interests. It's not how many AP classes you take, rather it's about your passion and performance in the ones that you do take.
Consider your schedule. Stretching yourself so thin that you no longer enjoy your sports, clubs, and/or academic courses may have an impact on your performance in the AP class and in those activities. Avoid overloading yourself with AP courses just because it "looks good." Instead, be selective and enjoy the class and your activities.
Be honest with yourself. Think carefully about your high school performance up to this point. If you have found yourself disinterested or not doing the work in certain subjects, it may be difficult to learn how to make the adjustment in the AP class. Instead, you may wish to pursue an Honors level course so that you will be successful. Again, poor grades in AP classes will have a negative impression on college admissions officers.

Source: Studypoint.com/apcourses

To learn more about the College Board AP program, click here.

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