Northern Burlington County Regional High School Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) Program

Our Goal Ensure that each Northern student is enrolled in the most challenging academic schedule in which he/she can be successful.

Why take on the challenge of Honors and AP Courses? Impact on Students ➢ Learn more and enjoy school ➢ Develop advanced academic skills ➢ Increase confidence ➢ Prepare for college success

Impact on Learning June 2015 Extensive Study Students who take AP Courses and Tests Earn Higher ACT scores. “We also believe that these results show the importance and benefits of the AP program for high school students hoping to go to college. Our MMW-S analysis provides the best quasi-experimental evidence available that students’ ACT scores increase as a result of participation in the AP program.” The Journal of Educational Research “The Impact of Participation in the Advanced Placement Program on Students' College Admissions Test Scores” Russell T. Warnea, Ross Larsenb, Braydon Andersona & Alyce J. Odassoa a Utah Valley University b University of Virginia Published online: 26 May 2015.

Impact on College Admission ➢ “Grades in college preparatory courses, strength of curriculum, admission test scores, and grades in all courses are the most important factors in the college admission decision.” THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR COLLEGE ADMISSION COUNSELING 2009 ➢ Strength of a student’s curriculum is of considerable importance to 82% of the highly selective colleges while only 65% of the least selective colleges view this as considerably important. ➢ 85% of selective colleges and universities report that a student’s AP experience favorably impacts admission decisions.

2014 Admissions Survey Results

Research Results: Impact on College Success and Experience ➢ AP students who placed into advanced college courses do as well or better than students who have taken introductory courses at the same college. ➢ Students who perform well on AP tests have more flexibility in college scheduling allowing for study abroad and other opportunities while still finishing in college in four years

Impact on Cost of College ➢ Most students take 5 or 6 years, and sometimes even longer, to earn their bachelor’s degrees at public colleges and universities ➢ A 2008 study found that AP students had better four-year graduation rates than those who did not take AP. For example, [four-year] graduation rates for AP English Literature students were 62 percent higher than graduation rates for those who took other English courses in high school.

Honors vs AP at Northern Honors courses – More challenging ➢ Locally designed ➢ Increased rigor ➢ Weighted +7 points to GPA AP courses - Most challenging ➢ Curriculum approved by College Board ➢ Equivalent to entry level college course ➢ National end of course exam each May ➢ May earn college credits or advanced placement in college ➢ Weighted + 10 points to GPA class of 2016

Honors Courses ➢ English - I,II,III and IV ➢ Math - Geometry, Algebra II, Pre-Calculus ➢ Science – Biology, Chemistry ➢ Social Studies – World History US I US II ➢ Gifted and Talented Class ➢ Technology Capstone Material Design and Engineering

AP Courses EnglishSocial StudiesScienceMathMiscellaneous AP Language and Composition AP World History AP Biology AP Calculus AB AP Computer Science A AP Literature and Composition AP US History I AP Chemistry AP Calculus BC AP Music Theory AP US History II AP Environmental Science AP Statistics AP Studio Art 2 D Design AP Psychology AP Physics 1AP Spanish Language AP Physics 2 AP Politics and Government AP Physics C E& M /Mechanics AP Spanish Literature

The Advanced Placement Exams ➢ Not required but expected Registration and fees – February Tests - May ➢ Scored on scale of 1-5 ➢ Colleges set policies for credit

AP Honor Roll

2015 AP Program Results ➢ 167 Students took over 300 tests ➢ 72% - scored 3 or higher on one exam ➢ 38 students earned AP Scholar awards

Questions?