The Advanced Placement Program at West Forsyth High School Dr. Tom Fowler Mrs. Donna Duncan AP CoordinatorAssistant AP Coordinator

What is AP? A challenging set of academic courses based on college-level curricula. Rigorous end-of-course examinations graded against national standards. Students will meet College Board’s curriculum requirements, as well as Georgia’s.

Why Colleges Like the AP Program Common curriculum across the nation. Professional development institutes and seminars for teachers in the program. Standardized assessments each year that are the same for all students. Students are better prepared for academic rigor of college

Benefits of the AP Program For Colleges and Universities –Students better prepared –Students placed in appropriate courses –Improves high school and college articulation –Increases enrollment

Benefits of the AP Program For High Schools –Improves quality of the curriculum –Keeps students motivated and challenged –Enables teachers to present advanced content –Provides educators with nationally-normed feedback –Raises rigor of all academics

Benefits of the AP Program For Students –College credit –Academic challenge –Academic skills needed for college –Increase in self-confidence, motivation, and academic orientation

The Rewards of AP Prepare for success in college by taking college- level courses while still in high school –Explore advanced topics -- study in greater depth –Develop advanced skills -- form disciplined study habits –Build confidence in capability to succeed in college

The Rewards of AP Opportunity to earn college credit or advanced placement –Possible tuition savings –Save money in unused textbooks –Flexibility in college course choice –Early entry to graduate/professional schools

Students who Participate… outperform their peers when placed into advanced courses. are more likely to take advanced courses in their AP subject areas. are more likely to choose challenging majors. are more likely to graduate with a double major. are twice as likely to go into advanced study.

Sequence of Courses 9 th grade – Human Geography, Biology, Psychology 10 th grade – World History, Biology, Psychology, Human Geography 11 th and 12 th grade – any of 18 remaining 22 AP Courses offered at West Computer Science is the newest course

Advanced Placement International Diploma (APID) Receive Certificate from College Board Criteria: 1. earn a three or higher on at least five AP Exams in languages (2), global perspective courses (1), sciences or mathematics (1), any other content area except English or world languages (1) 2. Submit scores to at least one university outside US

AP Capstone Program An innovative that equips students with the independent research, collaborative teamwork, and communication skills that are increasingly valued by colleges. Its foundation is a new, two-course high school sequence—AP Seminar and AP Research—designed to complement and enhance the in-depth discipline-specific study provided through AP courses. It cultivates curious, independent, and collaborative scholars and prepares them to make logical and evidence-based decisions. capstone/ap-capstone-educator-brochure.pdf capstone/ap-capstone-educator-brochure.pdf

What Counts in College Admissions % citing “considerably important” 1992 NACAC Survey College Admissions Officials

AP and College Success ™ Students who take AP® courses and exams are much more likely than their peers to complete a bachelor’s 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.

West Forsyth by the Numbers 1022 students taking at least one AP Course (340% increase since 1 st year) 22 AP Courses offered at West 2001 AP Courses currently being taken at West 542 (53%) taking two or more AP Courses 164 taking three AP Courses 69 taking four AP Courses 25 taking five AP Courses 4 taking six AP Courses

West Forsyth by the Numbers AP Merit School – 20% or more of students take an AP Exam and at least half of exams score a 3 or higher Earned this distinction in , , , , , Earned this distinction in , , , , , Will earn it again for AP STEM School and AP STEM Achievement school in those years

West Forsyth by the Numbers AP Scholar Distinction In , 272 West students earned an AP Scholar Distinction (of 898 students who took AP – 29% vs. 20% nationally) 13 National AP Scholars (Avg. 4 or higher on all AP Exams; score of 4 or higher on eight or more exams) 82 AP Scholars with Distinction (Avg. 3.5 or higher on all AP Exams; score of 3 or higher on five or more exams) 51 AP Scholars with Honors (Avg or higher on all AP Exams; score of 3 or higher on four or more exams) 126 AP Scholars (score of 3 or higher on three or more exams)

West Forsyth AP Commitment Contract Must be submitted in order to take an AP Course Copies will be available online.

AP Resource/Study Center Location: Room 2310 Hours of Operation: 7am – 8am Monday – Friday 3:45pm – 5pm Monday – Thursday

AP Contacts AP Central – Colleges’ AP Credit Policies – AP Student Resources – AP Parent Resources –

Contact WFHS AP Coordinators: Dr. Tom Fowler Ext: Mrs. Donna Duncan Ext: