Transcript AP Presentation

Socorro Independent School District
Pre-Advanced
and Advanced
Placement
Program
2015
What is Pre-AP?
• Pre-Advanced Placement Program
• Administered by the College Board, and allows
students to participate in college preparation
courses leading to college level AP courses
offered in high school
• Provides rigorous courses in grades 6 -10
• Develops the skills, habits of mind, and concepts
students need to succeed in college
Pre-Advanced and Advanced Placement Program
What is Pre-AP?
• Pre-Advanced Placement Program
• Administered by the College Board, and allows
students to participate in college preparation
courses leading to college level AP courses
offered in high school
• Provides rigorous courses in grades 6 -10
• Develops the skills, habits of mind, and concepts
students need to succeed in college
Pre-Advanced and Advanced Placement Program
Pre-AP Beliefs
• All students can perform at rigorous academic
levels
• To prepare every student for higher intellectual
engagement by the development of skills and
acquiring of knowledge as early as possible
Pre-Advanced and Advanced Placement Program
Advantages of Pre-AP Courses
• Students are better prepared for college
• Pre-AP classes are more challenging and
rigorous
• Students acquire skills needed to succeed in AP
courses at the high school level
Pre-Advanced and Advanced Placement Program
What is AP?
• The College Board maintains the guidelines for
college level courses taught in high school.
• The AP Program allows students to enroll in college
level classes while in high school and develop strong
study habits.
• AP teachers must submit a course syllabus to the
College Board for approval prior to teaching an AP
class.
• SISD offers 20 AP courses district-wide.
• The College Board administers 31 AP exams in May.
Pre-Advanced and Advanced Placement Program
Strong Curriculum
• Students who complete a rigorous high school
curriculum, specifically AP courses, are more likely
to earn a bachelor’s degree.
• A rigorous curriculum is more important than test
scores and class rank/GPA in earning a
bachelor’s degree.
• Finishing math courses beyond Algebra 2 (precalculus/calculus) more than doubles the odds of
a student completing a bachelor’s degree once
in college.
Pre-Advanced and Advanced Placement Program
Colleges look for:
High school transcripts – coursework and grades
earned.
• The best transcripts show challenging courses
and high grades throughout high school.
• The second best transcripts show challenging
courses with grades that steadily improve
each semester.
Pre-Advanced and Advanced Placement Program
Who should take an AP course?
• Students who meet course pre-requisites.
• Students identified by teachers or counselors as
likely to be successful.
• Students who have a high probability of success
based on analysis of PSAT and AP Potential.
• Students who seek a challenge.
• Students who are willing to work hard!
Pre-Advanced and Advanced Placement Program
Why should my student take Pre-AP/AP
classes?
• Pre-AP/AP strengthens the skills students need to
think critically and analyze problems – much like
any college level course.
• College Admissions Counselors recommend
students for admissions based on a rigorous high
school course transcript.
• Students who succeed in Pre-AP/AP courses
generally do well in college.
Pre-Advanced and Advanced Placement Program
Students who take AP courses:
• Are better prepared academically
• Have higher SAT and ACT scores
• Take more advanced courses and choose more
challenging majors in college
• Have higher GPAs in college
• Are more likely to complete a bachelor’s degree
in 4 years or less
Pre-Advanced and Advanced Placement Program
Advantages of AP courses:
• Students passing Pre-AP courses counting for high
school credit, shall receive 5 weighted points per
semester.
• Students passing AP courses counting for high school
credit shall receive 5 weighted points per semester.
• 10 points are granted to AP students taking the
appropriate placement exam in high school.
• Earn college credit or advanced placement for AP
test scores of 3, 4, or 5. Each particular college or
university identifies the AP courses and AP exam
scores for which AP scores will earn college credit or
advanced placement.
Pre-Advanced and Advanced Placement Program
What’s the difference between credit
& placement?
• Colleges can award “credit” for qualifying AP exam
scores. Students actually earn hours toward their
college degree.
• Colleges can award “advanced placement”.
Students can skip introductory courses, enter higherlevel classes, and /or fulfill general education
requirements.
• Students and parents can visit
http://collegesearch.collegeboard.com/apcreditpoli
cy/index.jsp to find the various scores accepted by
colleges for each subject.
Pre-Advanced and Advanced Placement Program
How do Pre-AP & AP classes compare to
other school courses?
• Courses are more challenging and require a higher
level of performance.
• Students get a head start on college level work.
• Students improve their writing skills, study habits, and
problem solving abilities.
• Pre-AP/AP classes require that students be involved
and motivated.
• Curriculum and instruction will be presented at a
rigorous academic level to ensure students are
consistently being challenged.
Pre-Advanced and Advanced Placement Program
What background does my student need to
succeed in Pre-AP/AP courses?
• Must able to read perceptively and independently.
• Must possess maturity, motivation, and self-discipline.
• Have a strong foundation in traditional course areas.
• Must possess good speaking, writing, reading and
listening skills.
• Be a creative and imaginative thinker.
• Have good collaborative skills.
Pre-Advanced and Advanced Placement Program
AP students are expected to:
• Recognize values and underlying biases.
• Engage in disciplined work habits.
• Respect honest differences of opinion and
ambiguity.
• Solve problems; know where and how to get
relevant information.
• Learn independently and appreciate learning.
Pre-Advanced and Advanced Placement Program
The AP Exams
• Administered over a two week period in May
• Approximately 3 hours long
• Consist of multiple choice and free response
questions
• AP reports sent to students, schools and colleges
in July
Pre-Advanced and Advanced Placement Program
Why should a student take
the AP exam?
• Colleges and Universities award college credit for
AP scores of 3, 4, and 5
• College credit means students save time and
money once in college
Pre-Advanced and Advanced Placement Program
Distinguished Achievement Program
•
•
•
TEA requires 4 advanced measures in addition
to required coursework
Three different levels of the same foreign
language
Students can earn an advanced measure by:
•
•
•
•
Earning an AP exam score of 3, 4, or 5
Original research/project
Grade of 3.0 (B) or higher in a Dual Credit course
PSAT score qualifying students as a Commended
Scholar
Pre-Advanced and Advanced Placement Program
How Can Parents Help?
• Provide a quiet place to study
• Establish high expectations
• Communicate with teachers
• Ensure student attends classes
Pre-Advanced and Advanced Placement Program
Additional Requirements for
Pre-AP & AP Courses
• Students and parents must sign an agreement
indicating they agree and understand the
requirements of the course(s)
• Students who are not successful in the courses
may be moved and placed in a more
appropriate course
Pre-Advanced and Advanced Placement Program
Questions?
Pre-Advanced and Advanced Placement Program