1. The AP ® Program at ARAB HIGH SCHOOL

2. 93% of our 2013 graduates pursued post- secondary education. 34% enrolled in four year colleges 59% enrolled in two year colleges In addition to our core curriculum, we teach 72 Career Technical Education courses at Arab High School. College and Career Readiness 2

3. The new college and career readiness standards better align with ACT and AP courses. A desire to become more competitive (scholarship and curriculum) with schools already teaching AP. To raise ACT scores. (The average ACT score of our students currently enrolled in AP classes is 26). Why offer Pre/AP and AP Courses? 3

4. We received a 3-year grant to assist in the implementation of Pre/AP and AP courses. The grant provides financial assistance, professional development for teachers, 3 study sessions for students, and monetary incentives for teachers and students. Any student scoring a 3, 4, or 5 on an AP exam will receive a $100. A+ College and Career Readiness Grant 4

5. Advanced Placement Program ® (AP ® ) courses are college-level courses offered in high school. AP courses reflect what is taught in top introductory college courses At the end of course, students take AP Exams— standardized exams that measure how well students have mastered college-level course work. Students who do well on AP Exams can earn credit and/or placement into advanced courses in college. The Basics 5

6. The Benefits of AP Courses AP courses can be challenging, but it’s work that pays off. AP courses are often the most interesting and fulfilling courses a student takes in high school. Students develop confidence, and learn the study habits and time management skills essential for success in college. 6

7. AP and College Admission Colleges rank “Grades in college prep courses” and “Strength of curriculum” as one of the top factors in the admission decision.* 85% of selective colleges and universities report that a student’s AP experience favorably impacts admission decisions.** 7 “We look favorably on students who have taken AP courses. The presence of AP courses is a sign that a student has chosen to challenge him/herself.” —Admission Officer * 2009 State of College Admission, NACAC ** Unpublished institutional research, Crux Research Inc. March 2007

8. What Are AP Courses Like? AP courses typically demand more of students than regular courses. Classes tend to be fast-paced and cover more material than typical high school classes. More time, inside and outside of the classroom, is required to complete lessons, assignments and homework. AP teachers expect their students to think critically, analyze and synthesize facts and data, weigh competing perspectives, and write clearly and persuasively. 8

9. AP Exams AP Exams are administered by schools worldwide on set dates each May. Exams usually last around three hours. Each AP Exam contains: Multiple-choice questions Free-response questions (essay, problem-solving, oral response) 9

10. AP Exam Fees AP Exam fee is $87 per exam. The A+ College and Career Readiness Grant pays a portion of the cost of the exam through next year (2015). Arab High School has assumed the remaining cost of the exam for this school year. Next school year, the students will pay for their portion of the exam. (Est. $50) 10

11. Why Take AP Exams? Most two- and four-year colleges and universities in the United States offer credit or advanced placement for qualifying AP Exam scores. Credit: Students earn credit toward their college degrees. Advanced placement: Students can skip introductory courses and move directly into higher-level classes, and/or fulfill general education requirements. Arab High School students taking AP courses are required to take the AP exam. 11

12. 1. Search by college or university name or by letter of the alphabet 2. You will see two things for each school: A link to the college’s own Web page that details its AP credit and placement policies. A statement by the college or university about its AP policy. AP Credit Policy Information Information about AP credit and placement policies at many colleges and universities is available at www.collegeboard.org/apcreditpolicy. 12

13. AP Helps Students Graduate on Time… Students who take AP courses and exams are much more likely than their peers to complete a college degree on time. Only one in four students who enter college complete a bachelor’s degree in four years.* A recent study** showed that students taking AP courses and exams were much more likely to earn a college degree in four years. For example, AP English Literature students had four-year college graduation rates that were 62% higher than students that had not taken AP English Literature. 13 * IPEDS database, 2008 ** Linda Hargrove, Donn Godin, and Barbara Dodd, “College Outcomes Comparisons by AP and Non-AP High School Experiences.” The College Board, 2008.

14. … and Save Money Students who take five years or more to graduate can spend $8,000-$27,000 for each additional year in college. The typical college cost per year for a four-year public institution is $8,142 for in-state students and $19,670 for out-of-state students.* Students attending private institutions might expect to incur $27,389 for each additional year it takes to earn a bachelor’s degree.* 14 * Costs include tuition, fees, and books and supplies only, and do not include room, board, and other living expenses. Average Estimated Undergraduate Budgets, 2009-10 (Enrollment- Weighted). The College Board, ”Trends in College Pricing,” 2009.

15. AP Boosts Eligibility for Scholarships 31% of colleges and universities consider a student’s AP experience when making decisions about which students will receive scholarships.* “Having the AP Exam score can make the difference when it comes down to awarding precious scholarship dollars.” —Edwina Harris Hamby, former Dean of Admission, Fisk University * Unpublished institutional research, Crux Research Inc. March 2007 15

16. AP and College Success A recent study* showed that students who earned a 3, 4, or 5 on the AP Exam had higher first-year college grade point averages and were more likely to return for the second year of college than non- AP students of similar ability. 16 *Krista Mattern, Emily Shaw, and Xinhui Xiong, “The Relationship Between AP Exam Performance and College Outcomes” (2009), The College Board. “One of the best standard predictors of academic success at Harvard is performance on Advanced Placement Examinations.” —William Fitzsimmons, Dean of Admissions & Financial Aid, Harvard University

17. PRE/AP Courses Offered at Arab High School: Pre-AP English 9 Pre-AP English 10 Pre-AP Geometry (9 th Grade Only) Pre-AP Algebra 2 w/Trig (10 th Grade Only) Pre-Calculus Pre-AP Spanish Pre-AP BiologyPre-AP Chemistry New Courses 2014-2015 Pre-AP U.S. History 1 17

18. AP Courses Offered at Arab High School: AP Language and Composition (11 TH Grade) AP English Literature (12 TH Grade) AP ChemistryAP BiologyAP Physics AP StatisticsAP Calculus AP World History AP Spanish Language New Courses 2014-2015 AP Government/Economics (ACCESS ONLINE) 18

19. Expectations for Students Enrolling in AP classes Students are required to attend the 3 Saturday study sessions (Only students participating in an Arab High School extracurricular activity are excused). Students must take the AP mock exam and final exam to receive credit for the course (These exams are not tied to the course grade). Students will not be allowed to drop the course mid year. 19

20. WEIGHTED CREDIT ALL Pre-AP Course are weighted 1.1 Example: Student 1Student 2 English 9Pre-AP English 9 Grade 91 Avg.Grade 85 3.55 GPA 3.58 GPA SEE GPA SCALE FOR AHS 20

21. WEIGHTED CREDIT ALL AP Courses are weighted 1.2 Example: Student 1Student 2 English 11AP English 11 Grade 90 Avg.Grade 79 3.50 GPA 3.54 GPA SEE GPA SCALE FOR AHS 21

22. 1 st Semester Class Averages for PRE/AP GradeWeightCorresponding GPA 841.13.52 (Equivalent to 90) 831.13.47 (Equivalent to 89) 821.13.41 (Equivalent to 88) 851.13.58 (Equivalent to 91) 801.13.30 (Equivalent to 86) 871.13.69 (Equivalent to 93)

23. 1 st Semester Class Averages for AP GradeWeightCorresponding GPA 831.23.78 (Equivalent to 95) 821.23.72 (Equivalent to 94) 921.24.32 (Equivalent to > 100) 941.24.44 (Equivalent to > 100) 911.24.26 (Equivalent to > 100) 841.23.84(Equivalent to 97) 911.24.26(Equivalent to > 100)

24. The 4.0 MYTH Student AStudent B GPA3.943.75 Career B’s 23 Career C’s02 Career D’s01 (69) 10 th Grade ACT26 26 12 th Grade ACT2630 No ScholarshipFull Scholarship

25. Why NOT to take Pre-AP / AP Classes? To be with friends To earn the additional Carnegie unit and raise GPA If nothing but A’s are desired or deemed acceptable.

26. BENCHMARK SCORES FOR COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS AND AP APTITUDE Explore ScoresPlan Scores English1315 Reading1618 Math1719 Science1820 26

27. Should We?, Shouldn’t We, or How Many? 1. Look at your child’s Explore or Plan Data 2. Evaluate all the factors- Extra-curricular (sports, clubs, band, AMT, work, outside interest, work ethic, etc. 3. Is this a transition year? 1. Our students consistently report that 9 th grade is the most difficult year academically due mainly to the transition. 2. A 9 th grade student that is highly involved might want to be selective with the number of Pre-AP classes 4. Sit down with guidance counselor or principal 27