Largo High APECS Program December 16,

Agenda ■ Welcome and Introductions ■ Program description and requirements ■ Admissions criteria ■ Testing instructions 2

Largo Student Experiences Introduction of Largo Seniors: ■ Name ■ Academic experiences at Largo ■ Activities/Clubs/Sports while at Largo ■ Awards or recognition ■ Plans for next year

APECS Academic Preparedness and Enrichment for College Success

APECS Program Mission Our goal is to serve our Largo community by providing high standards and a supportive learning community to assist our high-achieving students in order to become the most well-rounded, accomplished, prepared applicants they can be. 5

Signature Program ■ The APECS Program is modeled after various programs in the Washington Metropolitan Area. ■ The APECS program is available only to students within the boundaries of Largo High School. 6

What is APECS? The APECS Program will be Largo High School’s most accelerated and advanced college preparatory program consisting of rigorous Advanced Placement courses and Dual Enrollment courses. 7

Comprehensive and College preparatory The APECS program is not a career academy. Instead, APECS will prepare its students for Advanced Placement work in all academic disciplines while providing the opportunity for individual choice in electives. 8

ADVANCED PLACEMENT? ■Advanced Placement (AP) courses are college-level classes offered as part of a high school curriculum. ■AP courses are recognized by all colleges and universities as the most challenging courses available in high school. ■Research proves that AP students are far more likely than students not exposed to AP to go on to college and to perform better once they are in college. ■ ■Students at Largo High School are eligible to begin AP coursework as sophomores. 9

Largo High School Anticipated Advanced Placement Course Offerings ■ BIOLOGY ■ CHEMISTRY ■ CALCULUS AB ■ COMPUTER SCIENCE ■ ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND COMPOSITION ■ ENGLISH LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION ■ MUSIC THEORY ■ PHYSICS 1 10 ■ PSYCHOLOGY ■ SPANISH LANGUAGE ■ STUDIO ART: DRAWING PORTFOLIO ■ STUDIO ART: 2-D DESIGN PORTFOLIO ■ US GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS ■ US HISTORY ■ WORLD HISTORY

Why take Advanced Placement courses in high school? To college admissions officers, taking AP courses ■ indicates one’s willingness to take the most rigorous courses available ■ demonstrates one’s maturity and readiness for college ■ emphasizes one’s commitment to academic excellence 11

Why take Advanced Placement courses in high school? Over 90% of 4-year colleges in the U.S. provide credit and/or advanced placement for qualifying scores on the AP exams. Students may graduate early, double major, intern, study abroad, or change majors at no extra expense of time or money with the awarding of credits already earned through taking AP courses. 12

Advanced Placement Research – University of Texas Study Students who had earned a qualifying score of at least a 3 on a College Board AP exam while in high school were over three times as likely to succeed in college than students who did not take Advanced Placement coursework. 13

Advanced Placement Research – University of Texas Study Additionally: High school students who took Advanced Placement courses but did not achieve a passing score on the exam still were over twice as likely to succeed in college than were non-AP students. Source: National Center for Educational Accountability 14

College Board AP Scholars College Board AP Scholar distinctions are awarded to students who earn a qualifying score on (pass) at least 3 AP exams. 15

APECS Expectations ▪ APECS students are required to take a minimum of 4 AP classes by graduation and complete a minimum of 3 Dual-Enrollment courses at an eligible institution. 16

Pre-AP US History, English 9 & 10, Biology and Chemistry honors courses are specifically Pre-AP courses; These courses provide rigorous introductions to the content and study skills required at the college level. 17

Required High School Courses for the APECS Program: 9th Grade Honors English 9 Honors Biology Honors Unites States History 10th Grade Honors English 10 Advanced Placement United States Government 11th Grade Advanced Placement English Language Advanced Placement World History 1 Dual Enrollment Course 12th Grade 1 Advanced Placement 2 Dual Enrollment Courses

Additional Requirements ▪APECS students will choose at least one additional AP course (from the remaining twelve AP course offerings) by graduation. ▪Three Dual-Enrollment courses ▪We expect that most of the APECS students will take more than four AP classes over the course of their high school careers. 19

APECS Tentative Course Schedule 9th Grade Honors Biology Honors English 9 Honors U.S. History Algebra, Geometry or Algebra II Foreign Language Electives 20

APECS Tentative Course Schedule 10th Grade Honors Chemistry Honors English 10 Advanced Placement United States Government Geometry, Algebra II, Trigonometry or Pre-Calculus Foreign Language Electives 21

APECS Tentative Course Schedule 11th Grade AP World History AP English Language and Composition Optional: AP Biology or Chemistry Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, AP Calculus 1st Dual-Enrollment Course (after school or during summer) Foreign Language Electives 22

APECS Schedule, Continued 12th Grade AP English Literature and Composition or English 12 Pre-Calculus or AP Calculus Additional AP courses to meet APECS Program minimum of four Two Dual-Enrollment Courses (one each during fall semester and during spring semester) Electives 23

Requirements for Dual- Enrollment High school juniors and seniors, with a 2.5 minimum GPA,have an opportunity to take the Accuplacer test at their high school free of charge. The Accuplacer exam is a college entrance exam that is administered online. Detailed information about the exam my be found at:

Accuplacer Exam The Accuplacer is comprised of four test sections: ■ Reading Comprehension ■ Sentence Skills ■ Arithmetic ■ Elementary Algebra

Accuplacer Exam cont’d ■ Students must earn a minimum score on at least one section of the exam to qualify for the Dual-Enrollment program. ■ The exam will be given twice per year, once in September and once in February.

APECS Program Requirements APECS students: A) sign and uphold an academic contract B) complete a minimum of four Advanced Placement courses and take the College Board exams for each course C) follow the schedule as outlined above D) take the PSAT in 9 th, 10 th and 11 th grades and take the SAT in spring of Junior Year and at least once in fall of Senior Year E) maintain at least an overall B average with a B average in Honors and AP courses. 27

What kind of student is a APECS student? APECS students are: self-motivated, independent workers and disciplined ■ critical and analytical thinkers ■ well-rounded individuals 28

The College Endorsement Students who meet the previous criteria will receive the APECS endorsement letter along with their transcripts, that are sent to colleges. The letter will explain the program in detail and verify that the student has met the requirements and expectations of the APECS program. 29

APECS Application Process The online application is to be completed by January 19, When you apply, you must also register for your entrance exam. 30

APECS Application Evaluation ■ 50% of application weight: ■ Final seventh grade grades & 1st & 2nd quarter eighth grade grades in a)Reading/English/Language Arts b)*Math c)*Science d)Social Studies *Advanced math and science courses in eighth grade may be weighted more heavily. ■ 40% of application weight: Entrance Exam ■ 10% of application weight: Essay 31

Application Timeline DECEMBER 16, 2015 APECS Information Night Meeting at 6:30 p.m. JANUARY 19, 2016 (By 5:00 PM) Online application due Entrance Exam -- Largo High School Classrooms JANUARY 23, 2016OR JANUARY 28, 2016 Report time: 8:45 am Report time: 4:45 pm ■ 32

APECS Application Evaluation Grades 50% + Entrance exam and Essay 50% = DECISION! The admissions committee may also use your teacher references in the evaluation process. 33

APECS Application Evaluation Note: We do NOT require recommendation letters; we simply ask you to provide contact information in case we wish to contact one of your teachers. ss34

APECS Application Evaluation In February of 2016, all applicants will receive an ed decision: an acceptance, waitlist, or rejection letter. 35

Size – small! ■ The program will start small with 9th graders and a few select 10th graders. ■ The APECS population 9th grade cohort will comprise students for the first year. These students will take all of their core classes together for all 4 years. 36

Application Timeline FEBRUARY 6, 2016 Inclement weather make-up exam date -- only if the Saturday testing date is cancelled by PGCPS FEBRUARY 29, 2016 Decisions ed. We will contact applicants and families using the addresses submitted on your application. 37

Entrance exam ■ Exam consists of three sections: A) Math B) Critical Reading C) Writing ■ Students may NOT use calculators. ■ All items are taken from released PSAT and SAT exams – rated “easy.” See for examples. 38

Exam Day! ■ For the Saturday exam administration, doors will open at 8:45 a.m.; exam begins at 9:00. ■ Students should bring the following to the exam: water, tissue, and something to read after completing the exam. ■ No calculators allowed. ■ Students will not be dismissed from the testing site until 11:00 a.m. (Saturday administration) or 7:00 p.m. (Thursday administration). 39

For more information APECS Program Coordinator Jacqueline Slay and visit: 40

THANK YOU! & Questions... 41