Advanced Placement

2023 AP & College Planning Presentation

On February 9, 2023, SGHS had an information session for families to review course planning and options for students interested in college, AP and honors courses.

Click the link for a slide of the presentation and helpful tips on planning for college.

Advanced Placement exams

Advanced Placement exams allow students to earn college credit while in high school.
This is the time of year that students are planning their middle school and high school schedules for the upcoming school year. Here is information about the Advanced Placement (AP) offerings (administered through the College Board) at Scotia-Glenville.

Scotia-Glenville High School is committed to offering a wide array of AP courses taught by well-trained teachers, based on the belief that participating in challenging high school courses is the best way for students to prepare for success in college and career.

The standards and rigor that Advanced Placement classes provide offer an ideal environment for SGHS students to develop powerful academic skills, stretch their capabilities, and prepare for the academic demands of college coursework.  To that end, SGHS believes that preparing for and taking the AP exam is an essential component of completing any AP Course with fidelity and thereby gaining maximum benefit from the AP Program.

SG teachers attend professional development training delivered by the College Board.

Scotia-Glenville HS is committed to every student’s success. We believe access to rigorous course work such as Advanced Placement® (AP®) and Syracuse University Project Advance website (SUPA) plays an important role in that success.

AP EXAMS OFFER STUDENTS A CHANCE TO EARN COLLEGE CREDIT

The standards and rigor that Advanced Placement classes provide offer an ideal environment for SGHS students to develop powerful academic skills, stretch their capabilities, and prepare for the academic demands of college coursework. To that end, SGHS believes that preparing for and taking the AP exam is an essential component of completing any AP course with fidelity and thereby gaining maximum benefit from the AP Program.

AP: Start the conversation

Help your child prepare to talk to a teacher or counselor about AP.  Here are some questions to encourage your child to think about:

• What AP / SUPA course is right for me?
• Before you talk to a teacher or counselor, think about what interests you:

• Which courses do you enjoy most in school? In which subjects do you excel?
• What college majors are you considering? What careers excite you?

Ask your counselor or teacher the following questions:

• In which AP courses at our school am I likely to do well?
• Are there other courses that can help me succeed in AP or prepare me for college and careers?

What steps do I need to take?

• What is our school’s enrollment deadline? – Course sign-ups occurring the week of Feb. 12th
• May I speak with a student who has taken an AP course? – See a counselor or friend

What AP courses are offered at Scotia-Glenville?

These are the AP courses offered at Scotia-Glenville, depending each year on student interest:

• Chemistry
• Computer Science A
• Computer Science Principles
• Biology
• Calculus AB
• Calculus BC
• Economics
• English Literature & Composition
• English Language & Composition
• Psychology
• Statistics
• US History
• World History

The AP exams are part of a strong progression of courses that students at Scotia-Glenville may consider as they plan their schedules at the middle school and high school.

AP Exams are administered by schools worldwide on set dates in May each year.

• Exams are typically 2–3 hours and include:
• Multiple-choice questions
• Free-response items such as essays, problem solving, document-based questions and oral response

Academic Goals for 2018

• INCREASE RIGOR
• INCREASE DIVERSITY OF COURSE OFFERINGS
• OFFER MORE CAREER & COLLEGE CONNECTIONS

AP exam fees

• The exam fee for 2018 is $94 per exam.
• Assistance is available for eligible students with financial need:
• The College Board generally offers a fee reduction per exam for eligible students with financial need.
• Financial assistance is available to any student/family that expresses a need related to exam fees.
• The AP exam fees are due November 1st

Scotia-Glenville named to AP District Honor Roll for the first time

December 19, 2017

Advanced Placement: the Basics

• AP® courses are college-level courses offered in high school
• Courses reflect what is taught in top introductory college courses
• Students take AP Exams at the end of the course, measuring their mastery of college-level work
• A score of 3 or higher on an AP Exam can typically earn students college credit and/or placement into advanced courses in college

Advanced Placement: the benefits

• Engages motivated students with college-level course work
• Provides students with the opportunity to earn credit and placement in college
• Allows students to place out of college courses, saving them time and money as they work towards their college degree
• Nationally, research shows that students who score a 3 or higher on an AP Exam typically earn higher grade point averages in college and have higher graduation rates than their non-AP peers*
• Students who take AP courses and exams are much more likely to complete a college degree on time.** Graduating in four years represents a significant savings on the cost of college.
• Only 1 in 4 college students completes a bachelor’s degree in 4 years.
• The average cost of college for a single year is $25,290*** for in-state schools (tuition, fees, room/board, misc. expenses).
• Taking AP is valued in the college admission process
• AP courses are interesting and rewarding academic experiences
• When students earn college credit through AP Exams, their options and opportunities expand:

• Move to upper-level college courses sooner
• Pursue a double major
• Gain time to study and travel abroad

• AP courses challenge students to work and participate at a higher level:

• Opportunities to explore topics in depth
• More time in and out of the classroom required to complete assignments and projects
• High expectations for critical thinking, analysis, synthesis, evidence, multiple perspectives, and clear written and verbal communications

*Nationally, research shows that students who score a 3 or higher on an AP Exam typically earn higher grade point averages in college and have higher graduation rates than their non-AP peers

**College Outcomes Comparisons by AP and Non-AP High School Experiences, The College Board, 2008

***The College Board, Trends in College Pricing 2017, Figure 1

AP from the College Admissions Perspective

• 85% of selective colleges and universities report that a student’s AP experience favorably impacts admission decisions*
• Colleges rank grades in college-preparatory courses and strength of curriculum as the two top factors in the admission decision
• AP courses tell college admission officials that students are challenging themselves and preparing for the rigors they’ll encounter in their college careers

*Unpublished institutional research, Crux Research Inc., March 2007

AP Credit and Placement Opportunities

Each college and university has its own policies regarding AP® credit and placement. The College Board offers information about AP credit at thousands of college and universities at https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/creditandplacement/search-credit-policies.

• Search by school name or alphabetically
• Data for each school includes a direct link to that school’s Web page detailing AP credit and placement policies
• A statement from the college or university about its AP policy

Scotia-Glenville Advanced Placement Timeline

• Parent meeting with Academic Heads and Principal (February)
• Work with Academic Head to request/sign-up for a course (February)
• Complete any summer assignments prior to course if applicable (July/August)
• Submit payment for AP exam(s) (November 1st deadline)
• Complete AP exam(s) and determine score reporting preferences (May)
• Complete AP course(s) and reap the benefits of success! (June and beyond)

Number of students taking AP courses: 131

Last year, 131 Scotia-Glenville students were enrolled in AP courses and took 197 AP exams (some students enroll in more than one AP course). Of the 121 students, 99 of them (82%) received college credit. Students must receive a 3 or higher to receive the college and school credit. Students who receive a score or 2 or 1 receive school credit only.

Figures below show the percentage receiving a score of 3 or higher on the exams offered, meaning the student will receive some credit at most colleges:

• Biology: 71.4%
• Calculus AB: 30%
• Calculus BC: 85.7%
• Chemistry: 73.1%
• MicroEconomics: 81.2%
• English Literature and composition: 72.7%
• Psychology: 65%
• US Government and Politics: 100.0%
• US History: 80.8%
• World History: 62.1%

Advanced Placement at SGHS: Frequently Asked Questions:

• Where might I access additional information regarding the College Board’s Advanced Placement Program?

Visit the AP section of the College Board website

• How do I control the release of my AP Scores?

During the pre-administration paperwork process, the student is afforded the opportunity to select from several options regarding the release of the student’s scores. Additionally, these preferences may be altered through the College Board’s website after the scores are received.

• What if I cannot afford the cost of the AP exam(s)?

Scotia-Glenville High School is committed to prospect of all students taking AP exams for the courses in which they are enrolled and will make funding available for any hardship case. Requests for assistance should be initiated with a student’s guidance counselor. All requests will be handled with confidentiality.

• How might I find out if the college of my choice accepts AP Exam Scores/Credit?

The following web address on The College Board’s website allows a person to type in a college name to obtain a report on each school’s policy regarding Advanced Placement: Get a report on each college’s policy regarding Advanced Placement

• Is it possible to get a refund if I decide to drop an AP Course?

Refunds for the cost of the exams are only granted if a student drops the course prior to the time when the exams are ordered.

• AP MYTHS and REALITIES

MYTH: AP courses are for students who always get good grades.
REALITY: AP courses are for any students who are academically prepared and motivated to take college-level courses.

MYTH: AP courses are too stressful.
REALITY: It’s no secret that AP courses are challenging. But the support you receive from your classmates and teachers can help you manage the work load.

MYTH: I don’t think I will score high enough on the AP Exam to get college credit.
REALITY: You don’t need to score a 5. Many colleges grant credit — and placement as well — based on a 3 or higher on an AP Exam.

MYTH: Taking AP courses could hurt my GPA.
REALITY: Taking AP courses shows colleges that you’re willing to challenge yourself academically.

MYTH: I can’t take AP because no one has recommended me.
REALITY: If you think you’re ready to take an AP course, then you’re ready to advocate for yourself — just talk to a teacher or counselor.