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ADVANCED PLACEMENT PROGRAM
The Advanced Placement program is sponsored by the College Board, a non-profit organization dedicated to preparing, inspiring and connecting students to college. SHS offers Advanced Placement courses with the intent of challenging our students and to better prepare them for college. Each May, students take the appropriate AP Exam, that measures their knowledge in the areas they study during the year. The College Board provides a fee reduction for students with financial need for each exam taken.
One advantage of taking an AP course is that it allows the student to experience the rigors of a college-level course in the more supportive high school environment. It allows students to remain in the high school setting rather than commuting to a college campus. Credits achieved through the AP program will also be less expensive than typical college tuition. It also provides students with an opportunity to build advanced study skills necessary for success at the college level. Any student who is planning on attending a four-year university is encouraged to take at least one AP course in high school.
AP course grades are weighted to reflect the increased levels of rigor, work load, and expectations as compared to traditional high school classes. GPAs are calculated at the end of each course term. Students must take the AP Exam in order to receive the additional quality point for their grade point averages. If a student does not take the exam or if they drop the course they will not receive any additional quality points added to their grade point averages.
GRADE POINT AVERAGES
The grading system at Sylacauga High School is based on a 4.0 grade point average with the exception of Honors/Advanced Placement/Dual Enrollment courses. All grades that a student earns are included in computing student GPAs. The number of quality points used for computing GPAs can be found in the table below:
Regular Academic Courses Honors Courses Advanced Placement Courses/Dual Enrollment
A—4 Quality Points A—4.5 Quality Points A—5 Quality Points
B—3 Quality Points B—3.5 Quality Points B—4 Quality Points
C—2 Quality Points C—2.5 Quality Points C—3 Quality Points
D—1 Quality Point D—1.5 Quality Points D—2 Quality Point
GUIDELINES FOR HONORS/ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES
Sylacauga High School offers a number of Honors and Advanced Placement courses. Honors/AP courses require additional work inside and outside of the classroom, which may include, but are not limited to additional homework, outside reading assignments, and projects. Placement in these courses will be based on test scores, teacher recommendation, and/or previous course performances.
Students desiring to enroll in these courses should do the following during the registration process:
Obtain teacher recommendation in the desired subject area;
Have a minimum of an “80” average in pre-requisite course relative to the subject; OR
Sign a student/parent contract indicating your desire to take Honors/AP courses despite not meeting the above recommended criteria. The contract also indicates that administration will track progress in the class and failing below an acceptable performance level will result in transferring back into a standard level course.
Students and Parents should be aware of the following:
No schedule change will be made out of Honors/AP courses without administrative approval;
If administration approval is granted, grades and attendance are carried from the old course to the new course.
Students are required to take the AP Exam each May for each AP course they take. Based on the student's test score, it is possible to earn college credit from this exam. The College Board provides a fee reduction for students with financial need for each exam taken.
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