Rochester Community Schools

AP is short for "Advanced Placement" and is a collegiate level course taught at high schools nationwide. The AP program is run by the College Board, the same company that owns and administers the SAT program. While the AP program includes almost 40 different courses, the specific courses offered at each high school will vary depending on the school's size and staffing. Each course has a standardized curriculum to ensure that all students, despite their location, have access to the same content.

Every student who takes an AP course has the opportunity to take the AP exam on the same day each May. The AP exam is scored on a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest with a passing score generally considered to be a 3 or higher. Each college and university has unique requirements for earning credits based on students’ AP scores for each AP exam they take. Refer to the "AP Scores" page on this website for more information.

Other benefits include exposure to rigorous content and early preparation for college. AP classes are demanding and require students to have a certain level of dedication and self-discipline in order to be successful in the class. This skill set can be extremely advantageous as high school students apply to college. College Admissions offices are tasked with gathering enough data on each applicant that supports the likelihood that the student will be successful if offered a spot at their institution. Students who take AP classes (and especially those who receive a score of 3 or higher on the exam) have shown colleges that they are not only ready to go to college, but also able to handle themselves academically with collegiate-level coursework.

Rochester Schools offers a 24 Advanced Placement courses. When considering taking an AP course, students must be sure they meet the prerequisite requirements for the course as outlined in the Course Description Book. They should also consult with teachers and counselors.