AP

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AP HonorsParent and Student Night

• North Cobb High School

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What is Honors?

• Honors courses are taught at a faster pace and
  cover more material in greater depth than regular
  level classes.
• Honors courses, except for most 9th grade
  courses, carry an extra .5 quality point. (not
  for HOPE core)
• Honors level courses best prepare students for
  Advanced Placement Courses as well as the rigor
  of college courses

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What is the Advanced Placement Program?

• AP provides students with the opportunity to try
  college work while in high school.
• AP gives students the opportunity to learn
  valuable skills and study habits
• AP is designed by college professors and
  secondary school teachers. College professors
  also help score exams to verify mastery of
  college material in AP courses

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Benefits of AP

• Subjects are studied in greater depth
• Students will discover areas of strength and
  weakness
• Students will be preparing for the rigor of
  college work
• Students will build good study habits
• Students will improve writing skills
• Students will gain the realization that they can
  excel as they face their challenges

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Dont forget these benefits

• Gives you an edge on your college application
• Saves you money on college tuition
• Helps you develop your potential in the classroom
• Helps shape clearer goals for your future
• Students more likely to graduate from college on
  time

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What is Different?

• Honors and AP classes are more demanding
• AP classes are similar to first year college
  courses
• Students are asked to read and write more
• Students must learn to evaluate and critically
  analyze material

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This means

• Discussions are intense, probing and demanding
• Students are required to think for themselves,
  not give answers to please the teacher
• Homework involves thinking for yourself,
  expressing your ideas and analyzing what you
  read.
• The classes teach you to analyze, reason and
  understand

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Who Should take AP Classes?

• All students who are willing to accept the
  challenge of a rigorous academic curriculum
• AP Potential
• Students should take into consideration their
• -interests
• -motivation
• -strengths and weaknesses

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AP Courses offered at North Cobb

• AP English Literature
• AP English Language
• AP Statistics
• AP Calculus AB/BC
• AP Biology
• AP Chemistry
• AP Physics
• AP Environmental Science
• AP World History
• AP U.S. History
• AP European History

• AP U.S. Government Politics
• AP Comparative Government Politics
• AP Microeconomics
• AP Macroeconomics
• AP Psychology
• AP Human Geography
• AP French Language
• AP Spanish Language
• AP German Language
• AP Studio Art
• AP Music Theory

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AP at North Cobb

• AP Certified School
• All AP teachers receive special training
• NCHS is an AP Access and Support School with at
  least 30 of test takers identified as African
  American or Hispanic and over 50 percent scoring
  3 or higher
• Received a grant from the State to train
  additional teachers

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The AP Exam

• Administered on a nationally established schedule
• May 4th May 15th
• Typically three hour exams that include a
  multiple choice section and either essays or
  problems
• Measures reasoning skills and the ability to
  analyze facts and data, synthesize information,
  think critically about complex issues and
  negotiate competing perspectives

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Grading Scale for AP Exams

• Each exam is graded using a 5 point scale
• 5 Extremely qualified
• 4 Well qualified
• 3 Qualified
• 2 Possibly qualified
• 1 Not qualified
• An AP grade of 3 or higher can qualify you for
  college credit or placement at most U.S. colleges
  and universities

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Whats the Difference?Credit or Placement

• Credit
• Earn points/credits toward college degree
  requirements
• Placement
• Skip introductory courses
• Enter a higher level course
• Fulfill general education requirements

• Can be offered both placement and credit by many
  colleges
• Allows you to move into upper level courses
  sooner, pursue a double major, gain time to study
  and time to travel abroad

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What counts?

• Check directly with the college
• Check the College Board website
• www.collegeboard.com/ap/creditpolicy
• Type in the name of the institution or browse by
  letter of alphabet

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How much do AP Exams cost?

• The state of Georgia pays for the first test for
  each student in a given year
• All other tests in a given year are 86 each
• There is an 20 administration fee per student
• Students who are eligible for free or reduced
  lunch receive qualify for a fee reduction

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Rigor vs. Final GPA

• Colleges and universities are more interested in
  students who take a course load that has academic
  rigor than one that has a 4.0 GPA without any
  rigorous coursework
• Not only is rigor what the post-secondary schools
  are looking for, rigorous courses will help
  prepare you for success at the college level.

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What if my student isnt ready for AP?

• The emphasis should be on the highest level of
  instruction at which the student is capable of
  performing rather than the grade the student
  might receive.
• College registrars say they do recognize the
  difference between the honors and regular level
  courses.
• Consider the AVID program

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A.V.I.D.(Advancement Via Individual
Determination)

• Enables first time honors/AP students to take
  risks by enrolling in rigorous courses
• Provides a support course designed for student
  needs
• Builds confidence for success and provides skills
  necessary for rigorous coursework
• Provides instruction, coaching and resources for
  success

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Academic Booster Club

• Please join!
• The purpose of the ABC is to establish an
  environment of academic excellence for students
• Recognize students for academic achievement and
  improvement
• Contact Judy Kelly in room 459

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Governors Honors

• GHP is a six-week summer instructional program
  designed to provide intellectually gifted and
  artistically talented high school students
  challenging and enriching educational
  opportunities.
• Students in 10th and 11th grade are nominated by
  teachers and begin with an interview process at
  the school level

• Curriculum Areas
• Communicative Arts
• Math
• Science
• Social Studies
• Foreign Language
• Visual Arts, Music, Theater, Dance
• Design, Technology and Executive Management

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So Whats Next

• For us
• Recognition of students for taking the more
  rigorous coursework
• Provide support and guidance to AP students
• Summer AP Boot Camp
• Parent communication to keep you up to date on
  everything from testing to registration

• For you
• Be supportive parents
• Shift the focus from the grade to the learning
• When you check grades remember that
• There are typically fewer grades in an
  AP/Honors course
• The grades may not initially be the same as they
  have always been

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Current AP Students

• AP Student Panel

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Thank You!