The Advanced Placement Program

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The Advanced Placement Program

• Hamilton High School
• Chandler, AZ

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EQUITY AND EXCELLENCE

• HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL IS COMMITTED TO ALLOWING ALL
  STUDENTS TO SUCCESS-FULLY PREPARE FOR COLLEGE
  THROUGH THE AP/HONORS PROGRAM.
• AP/HONORS PROGRAMS, THROUGH RICH COURSE
  MATERIAL, CLASSROOM DISCUSSIONS, AND DEMANDING
  ASSIGNMENTS . . . CAN HELP STUDENTS DEVELOP THE
  CONTENT MASTERY AND CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS
  EXPECTED IN COLLEGE.

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IS MY STUDENT READY FOR THE CHALLENGE OF
HONORS/AP?

• CHARACTERISTICS OF SUCCESSFUL HONORS/AP STUDENTS
• THEY HAVE A GENUINE LOVE OF LEARNING, AN INTEREST
  IN THE SUBJECT MATTER, AND A POSITIVE ATTITUDE.
• THEY HAVE GOOD TIME MANAGEMENT SKILLS.
• THEY ARE WILLING TO WORK HARD AND PUT FORTH THEIR
  BEST EFFORT.

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Number of AP Scholars 2000-2013
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Hamilton AP Total Exams 2000-2013
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College Credit Opportunities

• Students can earn college credit through
• Dual Credit enrollment
• AP exams.
• HHS does not grant college credit.
• It is granted by the college or university that
  the student attends
• Teachers can give you general information on
  these programs, and will advise which courses
  have which options available.

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College Credit Opportunities (Cont.)

• Contact the universities that your student is
  considering attending for their current policies.
  
• You can find a information relating to acceptance
  of AP and CLEP at http//apps.collegeboard.com/apc
  reditpolicy/index.jsp

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College Credit Opportunity (Cont.)

• Advanced Placement (AP) courses give you a head
  start on college. Taking the end-of-course AP
  Exam sends a powerful message to colleges and
  universities.

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Prepare Now to Succeed in College

• A U.S. Department of Education study found that
  the strongest predictor of college graduation is
  something students do before they ever go to
  college Participate in rigorous, college-level
  courses in high schooland AP courses in
  particular.
• Clifford Adelman, Answers in the Tool Box
  Academic Intensity, Attendance Patterns, and
  Bachelors Degree Attainment (1999), U.S.
  Department of Education.

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AP and College Success
Students who take AP courses and exams are much
more likely than their peers to complete a
bachelors degree in four years or less. Source
Camara, Wayne (2003). College Persistence,
Graduation, and Remediation. College Board
Research Notes (RN-19). New York, NY College
Board.
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Whats the differencebetween AP and honors?

• AP courses are designed and updated annually to
  reflect whats being taught in cutting-edge
  college courses.
• Students receive an external evaluationthe AP
  Examwhich is scored by college faculty from
  around the world who verify that the student has
  mastered college-level studies.
• In most disciplines, honors classes prepare
  students for the rigors of AP classes.

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Why take the AP Exam?

• Most of the nations colleges and universities,
  plus colleges and universities in 24 other
  countries, grant students admission, credit,
  and/or placement for qualifying AP Exam grades.
• For example, at schools from Princeton to ASU,
  students can use qualifying AP Exam grades to
• Graduate in three or three-and-a-half years
• Enter upper-level courses
• Fulfill a foreign language requirement

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Save money

• If you earn a qualifying grade on an AP Exam, you
  can receive credit for the equivalent course at
  thousands of colleges and universities
• I took AP throughout high school because it was
  the most interesting and well-taught program
  offered. When I reached college, I realized that
  I had accumulated a years worth of credits. I
  graduated from Michigans undergraduate business
  school a full year early, saving 30,000 and a
  years time.
• Nikki Baker, University of Michigan

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Why should I take the AP Exam even if Im not
looking to earn credit or placement?

• Stand out in the admissions process
• Earn academic scholarships and awards
• Experience a college-level test
• It is a standard, objective method to measure
  academic success.

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Stand out in the admissions process

• One of the best standard predictors of academic
  success at Harvard is performance on Advanced
  Placement Examinations.
• William R. FitzsimmonsDean of Admissions,
  Harvard University
• AP Exams affirm the rigor of a students course
  work. Though admissions policies vary, if I were
  a student, I wouldnt assume that the college of
  my dreams didnt care about AP Exams in the
  admissions process.
• Bruce Walker, Director of Admissions University
  of Texas at Austin

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Factors InfluencingAdmission Decisions2001These
are the most frequently cited decision-making
criteria, in descending order of importance
Grades in college prep classes (80.4)
Admission test scores (51.7) Grades in all
subjects (44.8) Class rank (30.5)
Essay/writing sample (20.3) Counselor
recommendation (17.4) Teacher recommendation
(16.3) Interview (10.8) Community Service
(8.2) Work/extracurricular (6.4)
NACAC Admission Trends Survey, 2001
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Earn academic scholarshipsor awards

• Some of the most competitive scholarship awards
  value AP Exam grades
• Having the AP Exam grade can make the difference
  when it comes down to awarding precious
  scholarship dollars.
• Edwina Harris Hamby, Dean of AdmissionFisk
  University

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Who should take APcourses and exams?

• Our school uses the AP Programs official policy
  for AP enrollment, which indicates that all
  willing students should be considered for
  admis-sion to AP courses. We believe in equity
  and excellence.

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AP vs IB
Advanced Placement (AP) International Baccalaureate (IB)
Mostly US - more academic than philosophical International - emphasis on global perspectives
Students choose AP courses that fit their strengths and are independent of one another. Courses are offered in English, math, science, foreign language, history, and fine arts. The IB Program is a course of study, encompassing six areas English, history, science, foreign language, math, and an IB -approved elective. Students also take a Theory of Knowledge class, write a senior research project (i.e. the Extended Essay), and complete 150 CAS (Creativity, Action and Service) hours.
Graded in U.S. Graded world-wide
Score (1-5) hinges on the exam. Scores of 3 5 are typically recognized for college credit. Each college has different score requirements. Many factors, such as papers, orals and projects, in addition to the written exam, determine the final score (1-7). Students must receive a minimum of 24 points in order to receive the IB Diploma. IB Diplomas are awarded in Oct. after high school graduation.
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AP courses offered at HHS

• Hamilton High School offers 21 Advanced Placement
  Courses in various disciplines including
• English (Language Composition, Literature)
• Foreign Languages (Spanish Language Spanish
  Literature, French, German Chinese)
• Mathematics (Calc AB BC, Calc 3, Statistics,
  Linear Algebra/Discrete Mathematics)
• Fine Arts (Music Theory, Art History Studio
  Art)
• Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
• Social Studies (Human Geography, Psychology, U.S.
  History, U.S. Government, Economics, American
  Studies)

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NEW COURSE OFFERING

• Hamilton now offers AP Computer Science A
• Hamilton currently offers over 50 sections of
  Advanced Math

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Whats the cost of taking an AP course?

• There is NO fee to take an AP course.
• There is a 95.00 Exam Fee

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AP Exam Fee Assistance

• For students with financial need, the College
  Board reduces the exam fee.
• Scholarship and other Hamilton AP program
  funding is available. Contact any AP teacher for
  additional information.

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Interested?

• See any of the following for more information
• Chris Farabee, AP Coordinator and Administrator
• Jim Clark, Holly Kain Renee Stafford, AP
  Faculty Advisors
• Any Honors or AP Teachers See them in our Hall
  of Honors tonight.