Advanced Placement (AP) Parent Night

Transcription

1 Advanced Placement (AP) Parent Night Information provided in part by Jan Jacobsen Director of Gifted Education and AP Coordinator for Houston County Schools

2 What is Advanced Placement? Advanced Placement classes are college classes taught in the high school environment. AP classes are open to everyone, regardless of program of study. Students have the opportunityto take an AP exam at the end of the year. Students who receive a qualifying score may earn college credit for that particular class.

3 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 Examsat 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

4 AP : The Benefits Students learn rigorous college-level content and skills Taking AP is valued in the college admission process AP courses are interesting and rewarding academic experiences Opportunity to earn valuable credit and placement in college

5 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

6 AP : Skills & Advantages that Last a Lifetime Taking an AP course helps students build critical thinking skills, confidence, and the essential time management and study skills needed for college success 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* *2009, The College Board, The Relationship Between AP Exam Performance and College Outcomes"

7 AP Helps Students Graduate on Time & Save Money 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 $23,410** for in-state schools (tuition, fees, room/board, misc. expenses). *College Outcomes Comparisons by AP and Non-AP High School Experiences, The College Board, 2008 **The College Board, Trends in College Pricing 2014, Figure 1

8 AP Expands Students Options 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

9 AP : A More Engaging Learning Experience 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

10 AP Exams 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

11 Advanced Placement Grading The AP grade scale ranges from 5 to 1: Grade Meaning 5 Extremely well qualified 4 Well qualified 3 Qualified 2 Possibly qualified 1 No recommendation

12 Advanced Placement Website collegeboard.com apcentral.collegeboard.com For students, parents, & professionals Course descriptions Exam schedule Updates Credit policy

13 Advanced Placement Credit Policy Q -How do I know if my college of choice will accept AP? A -Do a search: AP college credit policy

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15 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 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

16 Advanced Placement Exam Coverage The NMSI Grant pays half of the testing fee for each Math, Science and English exam students take. If you pay for lunch, your cost of each Math, Science, & English exam is $44.50, while all other exams cost $91. If you are on free/reduced lunch, you get one test free, your cost of each Math, Science, & English exam is $26.50, and all other exams cost $53. Complete payment for 2015 is due by Feb 27 th.

17 AP awards (cords at graduation) White AP Scholar award: take at least 3 AP classes earn 80 or higher in each AP class take the AP exam. Green AP Scholar award: complete at least 4 AP classes (one in each area: math, English, science and social studies) OR5 AP classes in any subject area Earn a GPA of 90 or higher in each AP class Take the AP exam in each class

18 Who/What is NMSI? The National Math and Science Initiative is a not for profit organization founded in 2007 to significantly expand and improve STEM education in the United States. NMSI has an immediate impact on students lives and is dedicated to getting more American students career and college-ready in order to compete in the global economy of the 21st century. Currently, Houston County Schools, NMSI, and the Department of Defense Education Activity Fund (DODEA) are engaged in a 3-year $2.9 million AP and Pre-AP Teacher Training Program 18

19 Elements of Success We ve Got a Formula That Works! Extra training for teachers AP Teacher Summer Institute (APSI) Training Two-Day Conferences in the fall and spring for AP teachers Training for pre-ap teachers Support of AP teachers Saturday Student Study Sessions Expert resources Access to the most current and effective materials Online resources : NMSI Teacher Portal UT Homework System More time on task for students Saturday Study Sessions Extra Tutoring Sessions Practice National Exam with results and customized review plans Financial incentives for students, teachers, and administrators Student, teacher, and school awards based on bonus based on predetermined AP thresholds in math, science, and English exams. Schools receive $35K in AP math, science, and English for equipment. Funds for teacher training and for Saturday student study sessions. Measurement and accountability NMSI s comprehensive, standardized fiscal and program management systems 19

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22 Things to consider Deciding on which and how many AP courses a student should take is a team effort that includes students, parents, and teachers AP classes are year-long commitments Data such as class grades and PSAT scores can be a great indicator of potential success but are not the only factors considered Motivation, time management, and determination are factors that while hard to measure, can drastically affect success in AP classes as well as college

23 Arts: Art History (through Humanities), Music Theory, Studio Art (based on demand) English: English Language and Composition, English Literature and Composition History and Social Sciences: Our AP Courses Human Geography, Psychology, United States History, World History Mathematics and Computer Science: Calculus AB, Statistics Sciences: Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Physics

24 Explore AP : Take the Next Step

25 Questions and Answers