Honors/AP Information

Advanced Placement (AP) Classes:

Advanced Placement courses provide a college-level learning experience. Students who enroll in AP classes are expected to take the AP exams given in May of each year. Many colleges will grant credit for scores of 3, 4, or 5 on the AP exams; thus, students may earn college credit while still in high school. Students earn an extra grade point for a grade of C or higher. State law mandates that weighted grades can be assigned only to courses designated as eligible by the University of California (UC). UC has approved weighted grades for all SMHS Advanced Placement courses as well as certain honors courses. Consult the course description of each honors course to determine if is a class is weighted.

Honors/AP Information

Students will be able to modify their course selection (subject to availability) up until the end of the second week of the semester. After that time, SMHS will not be able to accommodate course change requests (electives and Honors/AP) because the class scheduling and teacher staffing will be set. The goal of the SMHS Honors/AP Program is to encourage students to academically challenge themselves while balancing their social, emotional, and physical health. Honors and AP courses have many benefits. We want students to be mindful of the following when choosing between college prep courses and Honors/AP courses. Students should select a schedule that is balanced and at the appropriate level of rigor for their ability while keeping in mind:

• Personal academic interests

• Academic or subject area strengths

• Level of motivation

• Mental health and wellness- balance of work and play is important

• The amount of time available in a day to commit to homework/study

• Outside of school obligations

• Course testimonials (Available online)

Students who select honors or AP courses are committing to year-long courses that will be challenging and require perseverance. Students in AP courses will be asked to commit to taking the AP exam. Due to the increased rigor in Honors/AP courses, students are expected to actively seek and use support opportunities.

For more information, please visit the Honors/AP Program site tab on our San Marcos High School home page. Course expectations and student testimonials will be posted online to help students/ parents make informed decisions.