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What is Advanced Placement?
The Advanced Placement (AP) Program is a cooperative educational endeavor between secondary schools and colleges and universities. It allows high school students to undertake college-level academic learning and gives them the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of the advanced material by taking AP exams. Students can receive credit, advanced placement, or both from thousands of colleges and universities that participate in the Advanced Placement Program. The AP Program has been administered since 1955 by the College Board, and procedures are determined by member institutions (public and independent schools, colleges, and universities). AP’s operational services are provided by Educational Testing Service (ETS)
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What Advanced Placement Courses are Offered at MHS?
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CTE
D78 AP Computer Science A D93/94 AP Computer Science Principles Fine Arts N33 AP Music Theory Language Arts L77 AP English Language & Comp L88 AP English Literature & Comp |
Mathematics
M65 AP Calculus AB M66 AP Calculus BC M69 AP Statistics Science S66 AP Chemistry S68 AP Biology S69 AP. Environmental Science S70 AP Physics C |
Social Studies
T38 AP US History T54 AP World History T68 AP Human Geography T81 AP Psychology T87 AP US Government T85 AP European History World Language F26 AP French 5 F46 AP German 5 F85 AP Spanish 5 |
How Are Students Awarded College Credit for AP Classes?
Students in AP courses learn as much or more than students taking the same courses in college, so students who do well in AP may receive college credit. The evidence of AP students’ achievement is not only a teacher’s grade, but also the results on a carefully designed national examination. AP exams are prepared by committees of college faculty and AP teachers, and are graded by other college and AP teachers, who ensure that the content and skills that are required reflect college-level achievement (Source: A Secondary School Guide to the Advanced Placement Program, 1996). When the evidence of that achievement is a satisfactory grade (3,4, or 5) on the spring AP exam, many colleges and universities award course credit. Please note, satisfactory scores are at the discretion of the college or university. AP Grade Reports are sent in July to each student’s home, high school, and any college(s) designated by the student. At the time of the exam, students can indicate on their answer sheet if they would like a college to receive their grade. After the exam, they can write to the AP Program and request that the grade be sent to other colleges as well. Students may also cancel or withhold a grade by contacting the AP Program by June 15 of the testing year (Source: Facts about the AP Program, 2000).
Do AP Teachers Receive Special Training?
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How Are MHS Students Prepared for AP Classes? |
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Yes. All Monarch High School AP teachers have participated extensively in AP teacher training. AP teacher professional development workshops of one day and up to three weeks are offered year-round at sites in the United States and abroad. They are organized and run by College Board offices and/or independent educational institutions. Each workshop focuses on an AP subject, specialized training in a particular discipline, or management of an AP course.
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AP classes at Monarch are open to any student who meets the necessary prerequisites. Some AP classes have no prerequisites, such as AP Language and Composition, AP English Literature and AP US History. Any student interested in pursuing a challenging, rigorous, college-level course while in high school can simply register for these classes. Other AP classes at MHS have prerequisites that follow a logical content-specific sequence. For example, students who wish to take AP Calculus must first successfully complete Pre-Calculus. Students who wish to take AP Spanish 5 must first complete Spanish 4. Most AP classes currently taught at MHS are taken by juniors and seniors who, with adequate planning, can take any AP class offered that they desire. Numerous advanced (honors) classes are available for freshmen and sophomores planning to take AP classes as juniors and seniors. These classes have weighted grades, as do all AP classes. For more information about the Advanced Placement Program and the College Board, go to www.collegeboard.com.
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