Advanced Placement

What is AP?

The AP Program from CollegeBoard offers college-level courses and exams that you can take in high school. AP courses help students hone the skills they will need in college and career: Time management, critical thinking, scholarly writing. Students can get a taste of college by getting familiar with college-level work and boost their confidence tackling it. Student can discover their passion while studying a subject in depth and could give them new insights and even put them on the path to a career.

Can students earn college credit?

Yes! AP is an assessment based accelerated credit option. Students will complete course work an end of course exam for each AP course they take to earn a score. Virtually all colleges and universities in the US award credit for each AP score of 3 or 4 out of 5 possible, including all state schools in Oregon and Washington.

How do colleges and universities view AP?

Almost all colleges and universities in the US recognize the rigor of AP and award college credit for AP scores of 3, 4 or 5. Even for exclusive institutions that don’t give credit for AP, AP courses are still recognized as advanced coursework and looks better on students’ transcripts and applications than standard classes.

How does the AP prepare students for university?

The thinking, writing and study skills needed to succeed in AP courses are the same skills needed to do well in college. Studies show that students who take AP courses or other advanced coursework in high school are more likely to remain in college and graduate than students who did not take advanced coursework in high school.

What kind of student is a good candidate for AP?

Any student can enroll in an AP course as long as the student has taken the recommended prerequisite courses. Students don’t need to be top of their class to be an AP student, but they will want to be prepared for the AP course they choose. Some AP classes have recommended courses you should take first, and all AP courses ask that students come willing to do their best work. The AP Program believes that all motivated and academically prepared students should be able to enroll in AP courses.