1. Pre-AP and AP: The Fast Track to College
Pamela Johnson
Director- Advanced Academic Studies

2. Welcome Why Pre-AP and Advanced Placement
Benefits of Pre-AP and AP Courses.
What do universities think?
How to support your students for the challenge of AP courses.

3. Why do you want to take Pre-AP/AP courses
Why do you want to take Pre-AP/AP courses? Why do your parents want you to take these courses?

4. AP classes get you ready for life
Where do you go from here?
A. The Work Force
B. College
C. Both—simultaneously or chronologically

5. Pre-AP and AP Defined

6. Pre-Advanced Placement (Pre-AP®) Courses
Designed to prepare students for success in AP® courses
Courses designed to “engage students in active, high-level learning through which they develop the skills, habits of mind, and concepts needed to succeed in college.”
Do not have an end of year standard exam
AMY
Pre-AP teaches the skills needed to be successful.

7. Advanced Placement (AP®)
Course standards developed by the College Board
Course syllabus reviewed & approved by the College Board
Offer end of year standard exams

8. What are the Benefits of Pre-AP and AP courses?

9. Expanding Students’ Options
Intro to the challenge of college level course
Entrance to upper-level college courses
Earn college level credit
Expand academic interests (travel, coursework)
“Soft Skills” – critical thinking, analytical, team work, project management, problem solving
What options can students have with a more flexible schedule?

10. From the College Admissions Perspective
AP courses tell college admission officials that students are challenging themselves and preparing for the rigors they'll encounter in their college careers
AP Performance impacts admission decisions
Colleges rank grades in college-preparatory courses and strength of curriculum as the two top factors in the admission decision

11. GPA & Curriculum Evaluation
Students evaluated based on courses available at their high school
Students compared with students at like schools with like curriculum offerings
AP Course grade vs. AP Test Results
Strength of course selection over time

12. GPA & Curriculum Evaluation
Final transcript & grade evaluation
Impact of senior year course performance on admission decisions
Dropping courses

13. New Graduates’ Work Force Readiness Report
Deficiency Occurs in All 8 Key areas for High School Graduates:
(Percent of high school graduates deficient in this skill)
Written Communications %
Professionalism/Work Ethic
Critical Thinking/Problem Solving
Oral Communications
Ethics/Social Responsibility
Reading Comprehension
Teamwork/Collaboration
Information Technology Application

14. AP classes address all of these skills!
Reason #1 for taking AP Classes!

15. What students Say

16. AP® Helps Students Graduate on Time & Save Money
Students who take AP courses and exams are much more likely to complete a college degree on time.
Graduating in four years represents a significant savings on the cost of college.
Only 1 in 4 college students completes a bachelor’s degree in 4 years.
The average cost of college for a single year is $21,500** for in-state schools (tuition, fees, room/board, misc. expenses).
*College Outcomes Comparisons by AP and Non-AP High School Experiences, The College Board, **The College Board, Trends in College Pricing 2011, Figure 1

17. SAVE MONEY Doing well in Pre-AP and AP Classes translates into MONEY!16
Doing well in Pre-AP and AP Classes translates into MONEY!
A score of 3 or higher on an AP exam can typically earn students college credit and/or placement into advanced courses in college.
(That means you don’t have to pay for those classes in college.)
Students that take AP courses are more likely to graduate in 4 years compared to those that do not. B

18. Pre-AP Courses Laying a Foundation

19. Pre-AP® These courses… move at a faster pace
require more independent learning
require more homework (plan on 30 minutes per night per Pre-AP course)
prepare students for college-level work in high school.

20. Who takes Pre-AP® courses?
Anyone who chooses the challenge
SBISD has a commitment to open access
ALL students encouraged to take at least one Pre-AP course
GT Students

21. Who takes Pre-AP® courses?
Pre-AP helps stretch intellectual muscles in middle school and 9th and 10th grades.
Students with a healthy curiosity about a subject and are willing to work hard.
Enjoy academic challenges.

22. Potential Pre-AP® Students
Done well in related courses
Score near the 85th percentile on standardized assessments
Recommended by teachers
Carefully consideration demands of other activities and homework

23. Exiting a Pre-AP®/AP® Course
May exit at end of 1st grading period or 1st semester
If failing a grading period, can be removed
If no grade level equivalent, need a C at the end of the 1st grading period to stay

24. AP Courses Setting the Stage for Success

25. Advanced Placement (AP®)
College-level courses offered in high school (mostly junior and senior year)
Corresponding end-of-course exams with college credit awarded based on scores

26. AP® Courses…
Involve intense, probing, and demanding discussions (a rigorous curriculum)
Teach students to analyze, reason, and think for themselves.
Are open to ANYONE.
Demonstrate a “strength of schedule” on college applications
Require hard work.

27. AP® Exams Opportunity to earn college credit
Administered annually at school
Registration in early February
Some cost off-set by SBISD

28. Experience a College Level Test
The intensity of college exams catches far too many freshmen by surprise:
“Students who have prepared for and taken the AP Exams adapt more easily to taking college essay exams, and are especially skilled in including a thesis and a well-developed argument. They are also less intimidated by sophisticated, college-level multiple- choice questions that seek to test understanding over memorization.”
—Robert Blackey, Professor of History CSU, San Bernardino

29. 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.
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.

30. What Parents Say
“AP made my daughter more responsible. She couldn’t get by without doing her best work. She had to apply herself, challenge herself, and meet the challenges.”
Linda Fleury, Parent, Sacramento, California

31. Online Resources
– AP, SAT, ACT test prep – free services for SBISD students. Go to SBISD, click “students” tab, click “shmoop” for more info and student access codes ( )
– free tutorials and support, SAT prep
Naviance

32. Where to Direct Questions
Specific school – Campus Counselor
General questions – Advanced Academic Studies
Pamela Johnson, Director
Amy Ellingson, Facilitator
Where to get info after tonight.