Advanced Placement Program

What is the Advanced Placement Program (AP)?

The Advanced Placement (AP) Program is a cooperative educational endeavor between secondary schools and the colleges and universities. It allows high school students to undertake college-level academic learning in AP courses, and gives them the opportunity to show that they have mastered the advanced material by taking AP exams. Students can receive credit, advanced placement, or both from thousands of colleges and universities that participate in the Advanced Placement Program.

The AP Program has been administered since 1955 by the College Board. As in other College Board programs, AP procedures are determined by representatives of member institutions (public and independent schools, colleges, and universities). AP's operational services are provided by Educational Testing Service (ETS).

Currently 33 AP Examinations in 19 academic disciplines are administered each May. Approximately 13,000 high schools in the United States, Canada and overseas teach AP courses and offer the annual examinations. About 3,000 colleges and universities grant credit and advanced placement to entering students whose AP grades meet their requirements (Source: collegeboard.com December, 2000).

What Advanced Placement programs are offered at BHS?

Mathematics

Calculus AB
Calculus BC
Statistics

Language Arts

English Language
English Language

Computer Science

Computer Science A
Computer Science B

Science

Biology
Chemistry
Physics B
Physics C
Environmental Science

Social Studies

European History
U.S. History
Human Geography
World History
United States Gov't
Macroeconomics
Microeconomics
Psychology

World Languages

French Language
French Literature
German Language
Spanish Language
Spanish Literature
Latin
Japanese

The Arts

Music Theory

Is an AP diploma available?

Yes. Boulder High offers an AP diploma to students who meet diploma criteria. Any such students will be awarded the diploma at their graduation ceremony.

This program is intended to encourage students traditionally under-represented in AP courses to commit to a rigorous course of study for their high school years.

Diploma Requirements:

Students must take five year-long AP courses (or the equivalent) in four subject areas. The subject areas are Music, Computer Science, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Language Arts and World Language.
Students must complete these five AP courses with no grade lower than a B.
Students must take the AP test in each AP course that counts as a subject area requirement.
Students must submit an application for the Boulder High AP Diploma in the year in which they intend to graduate. Applications are available in the counseling office mid-April.

What is an AP Scholar, and how many AP Scholars does BHS have?

The AP Scholar Program recognizes high school students who have demonstrated outstanding college-level achievement through AP courses and exam grades. AP Scholar Awards are given to students who receive grades of 3 or higher on at least three full-year AP exams, or the equivalent. AP Scholar with Honor Awards are bestowed on students who receive grades of 3 or higher on at least four full-year AP exams, or the equivalent, and have an average exam grade of at least 3.25. AP Scholar with Distinction Awards are for students who receive grades of 3 or higher on at least five full-year AP exams or the equivalent, with an average exam grade of 3.5 (Source: A Secondary School Guide to the Advanced Placement Program, 1996). BHS Total AP Scholars by Year:

1996-----28
1997-----38
1998-----31
1999-----57
2000-----68
2001-----73
2002-----89
2003-----105

How do BHS students perform on AP exams?

At BHS last year, approximately 400 students took 689 AP exams in 24 subject areas. 87% of the students who took AP exams scored 3 or above. Nationally, only 64% of students taking AP exams scored 3 or above. The Boulder Valley School District average was 79%. In addition, BHS had more students take AP exams than any other high school in the District.

How do students get college credit for AP classes?

Students in AP courses learn as much or more than students taking the same courses in college, so students who do well in AP should receive college credit. When the evidence of that achievement is a satisfactory grade on a rigorous national examination, the case for credit is even stronger. Many colleges and universities give credit to students transferring from other colleges, usually crediting courses in which students have a grade of C or better. An AP grade of 3 or higher is better validated and probably represents a higher standard than these transfer grades.

The Advanced Placement Program meets strict credit/placement criteria of selective colleges and universities on the basis of rigorous national examinations. The evidence of AP students' achievement is not only a teacher's grade, but also the results on a carefully designed national examination. AP exams are prepared by committees of college faculty and AP teachers, and are graded by other college and AP teachers, who ensure that the content and skills that are required reflect college-level achievement (Source: A Secondary School Guide to the Advanced Placement Program, 1996).

AP Grade Reports are sent in July to each student's home, high school, and any college(s) designated by the student. At the time of the exam, students can indicate on their answer sheet if they would like a college to receive their grade. After the exam, they can write to the AP Program and request that the grade be sent to other colleges as well. Students may also cancel or withhold a grade by contacting the AP Program by June 15 of the testing year (Source: Facts about the AP Program, 2000).

Do AP teachers receive special training?

Yes. All Boulder High School AP teachers have participated extensively in AP teacher training. AP teacher professional development workshops of one day and up to three weeks are offered year-round at sites in the United States and abroad. They are organized and run by College Board offices and/or independent educational institutions and funded by a combination of participant fees and grants or donations. Each workshop focuses on an AP subject, specialized training in a particular discipline, or management of an AP course.

How do BHS students sign up and prepare for AP classes?

AP classes at Boulder High School are open to any student who meets the necessary prerequisites. Some AP classes have no prerequisites, such as AP Language and Composition, AP English Literature and AP US History. Any student interested in pursuing a challenging, rigorous, college-level course while in high school can simply register for these classes. Other AP classes at BHS have prerequisites that follow a logical content-specific sequence. For example, students who wish to take AP Calculus must first successfully complete precalculus. Students who wish to take AP Spanish 5 must first complete Spanish 4. Most AP classes currently taught at BHS are taken by juniors and seniors who, with adequate planning, can take any AP class offered that they desire. Numerous advanced (honors) classes are available for freshmen and sophomores planning to take AP classes as juniors and seniors. These classes have weighted grades, as do all AP classes. Check with your counselor about how to sign up for AP classes.

Student Testimonials:

BHS is flat out the greatest school in the world. Coming to college I was expecting the "woah, these kids are super smart, I feel so behind." And I felt nothing of the sort. I was extraordinarily well prepared to jump into the two and three hundred level courses that my AP classes have tested me into. I feel so ready to succeed and my AP classes are allowing me to pursue more of my interests by freeing up my schedule.

—Devin Kuh, Whitman College (BHS class of '09)

The Boulder High AP program is one of the best. As a BHS student, I had the opportunity to take many more AP classes than the vast majority of my Duke peers and as a result I am dealing with the college work load better than most. The skills I learned in BHS' AP program - coping with a rigorous workload, working in a team, doing upper level thinking - all proved to be invaluable assets in my transition to college. I have been able to slide relatively smoothly into the college setting because of my experiences at BHS and my participation in its AP program.

—Rob Van Dusen, Duke University (BHS class of '09)

There is no doubt that both the quantity of work and the quality of teaching in the Boulder High School AP classes that I took have prepared me for college level courses. Penn is strict about credit and placement, but I still managed to test out of several introductory classes. Specifically, I got a free elective credit for math as well as placed out of two calculus courses at Penn. In addition, I received two elective credits from Spanish and fulfilled the language requirement here. My English credits were elective and my chemistry credit went towards a lab credit. I was also waived out of all of the introductory economics courses. Penn will only grant credit or waivers if you receive a 5 on the AP tests which I believe is true for most of the Ivy League schools, and they do not exempt you from most school requirements. However, the elective credits I have received will certainly allow me to study abroad more easily and give me more freedom to take classes outside of my major.

—Julia Eckstein, University of Pennsylvania (BHS class of '09)

I took 8 AP classes at Boulder High. By taking these classes, I was able to test out of 5 classes at the Air Force Academy. It was fantastic to test out of 5 classes because it gives me flexibility in my schedule and allowes me to take more classes that I want to take. Furthermore, being used to the AP course load made the transition into college classes smooth and greatly helped my GPA. Frankly, I believe that it is one of the main reasons that I am succeeding here while many of my classmates are struggling with the rigorous course load.

—Tim Smith, Air Force Academy (BHS class of '08)

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