1. Advanced Placement (AP), College Prep, and College Ready Courses
Boaz High School
Assistant Principal – Kristi Hopper
Boaz Middle School
Instructional Coach – Jenny Franks

2. Welcome Boaz City Schools are committed to every student’s success
More challenging course work plays an important role in that success

3. What We Will Cover What are AP courses?
What are the benefits of AP courses?
AP Exams
How can I help my child make the best choices?
What are college prep courses?
What are college ready courses?

4. What are AP courses
AP courses are college-level courses offered in high school
Students are given the opportunity to learn how to handle the challenges of college-level courses
Students take AP exams at the end of the course to measure their mastery (score 1-5)
Most colleges will allow credit for a qualifying score on AP exams (typically a 3, but colleges differ in their requirements)

5. AP Courses Offered at BHS
English
AP English Language and Composition (11th Grade)
AP English Literature and Composition (12th Grade)
History
AP US History (11th Grade)
AP US Government and Politics (12th Grade)
Mathematics
AP Calculus AB
Science
AP Chemistry
AP Biology
AP Computer Science Principles has been offered in the past – subject to student interest

6. AP at Boaz High School. Received the A+ College Ready Grant in 2016
AP at Boaz High School *Received the A+ College Ready Grant in 2016 *Grant provided teacher training and student incentives

7. Benefits
Students learn to handle the demands of challenging course work
Students learn college-level content and skills with support from high school teachers
Opportunity to ear valuable credit and placement in college
Some colleges view AP courses favorably when making admission decisions

8. Added Benefits AP courses support career pathway choices
Taking an AP course helps students build critical thinking skills, confidence, and essential time management and study skills needed for college
$$$ - A+ College Ready Grant provides monetary incentives to students scoring at least a 3 on AP exams (A+ awarded $100 for each qualifying score – BHS students earned a total of $2400 for scores on last year’s exams. One student received $300 for qualifying scores earned in 3 AP courses
Grant ends in May 2019

9. Support Opportunities
Specialized Teacher Training – Teachers spend a week during the summer to learn strategies to support students
Saturday Study Sessions for valuable support from a different perspective
Mock Exams – Students experience a practice exam to help guide their study efforts

10. AP Exams Exams are taken at school
Typically 2-3 hours with multiple choice questions and free response items
Each student will take an exam to measure mastery in AP courses
These exams are not graded on a pass/fail scale and will not be averaged into their GPA
Exams are scored on a 1-5 scale

11. AP Exams
Each college has their own policy for awarding credit for AP courses. Some colleges will award college credit for a score of 3 on an AP exam.
Students will be given instructions for gaining access to their scores during the exam registration process at school

12. AP Exam Fees The cost of the exam is $92 per course
The A+ College Ready Grant will pay half the exam fee - BHS students pay $46
Grant ends in May 2019

13. Helping My Child Make the Best Choice
Discuss the career possibilities
Discuss college goals
Support your child in more challenging courses – grades
AP courses are designed to help students handle the challenges of high levels of thinking – most students will benefit from this type of instruction

14. College (and Career) Prep Courses
Courses are designed to help students prepare for more challenging coursework found in career pathways and AP courses
Teachers receive specialized training to help support students
Students gain valuable experience in problem solving and application
Offered in grades 9-10 (11th grade – Pre Calculus)

15. College (and Career) Ready Courses
Offered in grades 6-8
Teachers receive specialized training

16. Questions ?