11AP Philosophy

The educational needs of most students at our high school are well served by the challenging and rigorous courses in our extensive college preparatory programs. In keeping with our special obligation as a comprehensive high school to serve a wide range of student interests and aptitudes have developed a number of AP courses, we have joined the nationwide Advanced Placement Program and developed a number of AP courses.

Unlike the classes in our college preparatory program, AP classes are actual college level courses. Students who select AP classes should do so because the AP curriculum offers them opportunities for advanced, college level study while they are in high school.

AP courses are specifically designed for students who have shown an extraordinary aptitude for advanced study in a particular subject. AP courses should not be taken merely to increase a student’s GPA.

Since we believe in equity of opportunity for all students, any student who fulfills the prerequisites for an AP class will be admitted.

Finally, since all AP courses are different, each department reserves the right to establish reasonable prerequisites and guidelines for student entry. All prerequisites and guidelines will be published in the school’s program of studies and updated as needed.

Prerequisites exist to guide student selection of courses appropriate for their educational needs, and to ensure that the student has a reasonable expectation to complete successfully all of the course’s requirements.

All students who take an AP course are required to take the AP test in that subject area. Financial assistance is available for students who qualify.

Parents and students who are interested in the AP program should check out the program at www.collegeboard.com.

The department offers two AP courses, English Language and Composition for juniors, and Literature and Composition for seniors.

The department believes in equity of opportunity for all students. Therefore, any student who fulfills the prerequisites for entrance into an AP class will be admitted. The requirements are:

• a student needs to earn a grade of 85 or above in honors English, 95 or above in C1 or C2 English;

• a student must earn a grade of 75 or above on the summer reading and writing assignments.

The AP English courses are college level courses. They are designed for students who have mastered the conventions of Standard Written English in the areas of grammar, spelling, and punctuation. They are more challenging than courses students have taken before in high school. There is no extra credit, and some students earn grades lower than they are accustomed to.

The students for whom these courses are recommended are those who have spent a good deal of time reading widely and deeply in both fiction and non-fiction genres.

Homework assignments will generally require 1-3 hours to complete for each class meeting. This means that students must make some choices. They need to select extracurricular activities judiciously. Remember that our school’s philosophy states that academic study takes precedence over extracurricular involvement.

If students plan to miss a lot of classes because of other commitments such as field trips during school time or vacations beyond regular school dates, they should select a class more in keeping with their busy schedule. Each missed class dramatically reduces a student’s chances of mastering the complex material contained in the English AP curriculum.