AP courses are designed to match the content of entry-level college courses. This is a very demanding curriculum with high expectations. Students who excel in honors courses and plan to attend a four-year college should seriously consider taking AP courses. Davidson County offers the following AP courses at various high schools: English Language and Composition AP, English Literature and Composition AP, Spanish Language AP, Statistics AP, Calculus AB AP, Calculus BC AP, Computer Science AP, Biology AP, Chemistry AP, Physics B AP, Environmental Science AP, U.S. History AP, Psychology AP, European History AP, Government & Politics AP, Music Theory AP, and Studio Art AP. Upon completion of the AP curriculum, students take the Princeton exam and receive AP weight for the course. If they do not take the Princeton AP exam, they will receive honors weight for the course. Depending upon the student's score, this exam may grant college credit. AP courses are weighted two quality points due to high expectations. If an AP course is taught as a two-semester course, the first semester counts as an elective course and receives honor weight. These offerings are dependent upon having enough students to complete a class.

Go to http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/exam/calendar/index.html for the AP Exam Schedule.

Questions
1)  Why take an Advanced Placement class?
2)  Where do I go to see if my future college will accept my AP credit?
3)  Where can I go to help prepare for an AP exam?
4)  When will I receive my AP grades?
5)  What are Scholar Awards?
 
Answers
1)  Q Why take an Advanced Placement class?
A
AP can change your life. Through college-level AP courses, you enter a universe of knowledge that might otherwise remain unexplored in high school; through AP Exams, you have the opportunity to earn credit or advanced standing at most of the nation's colleges and universities.

With 37 courses and exams across 22 subject areas, AP offers something for everyone. The only requirements are a strong curiosity about the subject you plan to study and the willingness to work hard. Here are just a few reasons to take Advanced Placement courses:

* Get a head start on college-level work.

* Improve your writing skills and sharpen your problem-solving techniques.

* Develop the study habits necessary for tackling rigorous course work.

* Explore the world from a variety of perspectives, most importantly your own.

* Demonstrate your maturity and readiness for college.

* Show your willingness to push yourself to the limit.

* Emphasize your commitment to academic excellence.

* Study subjects in greater depth and detail.

* Assume the responsibility of reasoning, analyzing, and understanding for yourself.
2)  Q Where do I go to see if my future college will accept my AP credit?
A
Click here to search for your college or university.
3)  Q Where can I go to help prepare for an AP exam?
A

Collegeboard.com gives you many resources to prepare for each AP exam here. This site also includes questions from prior tests, under free response questions.

Apex Online is available free for all Davidson County Students.  Click here to access this valuable resource. 

4)  Q When will I receive my AP grades?
A
Most AP Grade Reports are sent by mid-July. AP Grade Reports are sent in July to the college you designated on your answer sheet, to you, and to your high school. Each report is cumulative and includes grades for all the AP Exams you have ever taken, unless you have requested that one or more grades be withheld from a college or canceled.
5)  Q What are Scholar Awards?
A

The AP Program offers several Scholar Awards to recognize high school students who have demonstrated college-level achievement through AP courses and exams. Although there is no monetary award, in addition to receiving an award certificate, this achievement is acknowledged on any grade report that is sent to colleges the following fall.

Award Levels

AP Scholar
Granted to students who receive grades of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams.

AP Scholar with Honor
Granted to students who receive an average grade of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams.

AP Scholar with Distinction
Granted to students who receive an average grade of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.

AP State Scholar
Granted to the one female and one male student in each U.S. state and the District of Columbia with grades of 3 or higher on the greatest number of exams (at least three exams), and then the highest average grade (at least 3.5) on all AP Exams taken.

National AP Scholar
Granted to students in the United States who receive an average grade of at least 4 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams.

National AP Scholar (Canada)
Granted to students in Canada who receive an average grade of at least 4 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 4 or higher on five or more of these exams.

Department of Defense for Education Activity (DoDEA) Scholar
Granted to the one male and one female student attending DoDEA schools with the highest average grade on the greatest number of AP Exams. The minimum requirement is a grade of 3 or higher on three exams.

AP International Scholar
Granted to the one male and one female student attending an American international school (that is not a DoDEA school) outside the U.S. and Canada with the highest average grade on the greatest number of AP Exams. The minimum requirement is a grade of 3 or higher on three exams.

Notes About the Awards
The AP Scholar Awards are academic distinctions that students may cite among their credentials on applications, résumés, etc. Students do not receive any monetary award from the College Board.
The Calculus AB subscore, Music Theory aural subscore, Music Theory nonaural subscore grades are not used in the Scholar Award calculations.

There are two steps to calculating the awards: First, the student's average AP grade is determined based on all exams taken this year and in previous years. Second, the student's exam grades are checked to see which ones count toward the various Scholar Awards (e.g., an exam with a grade of 3 does not count toward a National Scholar Award). A student must meet both sets of criteria to be eligible; e.g., a student who has a 3.25 AP grade average but only received a 3 or higher on three exams will not receive the Scholar with Honor Award because the minimum requirement is four or more exams.