Honors and Advanced Placement Courses

Honors/Pre-AP Humanities

Honors/Pre-AP courses are offered for students of outstanding promise in Mathematics, Science, English and Social Studies.  Honors study in one or more of these areas should be based upon consideration of the student’s ability to engage in a program that is both accelerated and strengthened.

Advanced Placement

Preparation for AP exams in English, Social Studies (World History, U.S. History, Economics, European History, Psychology), Math (Statistics, AP Calculus AB, and BC), Science (Chemistry, Biology, Physics C), Art, and Music currently.  Students interested in electing any one of these college-level courses should consult with their teachers and school counselor. Colleges may give credit and/or advanced course placement to those students who take the AP examination and demonstrate mastery of the material presented in the course. Students and parents/guardians should contact colleges directly for full information about their AP credit policies.

The AP examination is not a requirement of an Advanced Placement course.  Students who choose to take the exam will need to either pay the exam fee, or file for a fee waiver based on need.  If a student does not sit for this exam, the AP designation will remain in the course name on the official transcript.

Recommendations for Honors/Advanced Placement Programs

The purpose of the following criteria is to help guide students that are considering this level of rigorous coursework.  Honors and Advanced Placement programs are designed for students who demonstrate a high level of interest, aptitude, and prior success in the subject matter.

Criteria for Recommendations

  • Works well independently, seeks help only, when necessary, does not require detailed or repeated directions from teacher to proceed.
  • Is creative, can think of methods to try or use original methods when faced with a problem or situation.
  • Readily applies learned principles to new situations, can solve novel problems, responds well to guided discovery.
  • Responds positively to challenging situations, shows persistence in searching for solutions, finds satisfaction in independently solving a problem rather than accepting another person’s solution or help.
  • Likes to analyze, generalize, derive, prove, and abstract to investigate relationships and alternative solutions.
  • Has a strong intuitive sense for the subject matter, sorts out key relationships quickly.
  • Shows a high degree of interest and motivation, is intellectually curious and a critical thinker.
  • Has experienced high achievement in past courses without undue stress, has not depended heavily on rote learning or tutoring.
  • Shows above average ability in oral and written expression.
  • Ability to demonstrate long-term planning skills.

Open Enrollment (Self-Selection for College, Honors and AP courses)

Students that do not meet the recommended criteria, may still enroll in an Honors/AP course.  Teachers, department heads and counselors are available to discuss questions regarding the course expectations and recommended preparation.

Students and parents/guardians should be advised that once a student has signed up for a College, Honors or AP course, there is no assurance that a request for a level change can be accommodated.