Advanced Placement (AP)

Advanced Placement courses (labeled with an (AP) afterward) are courses designed to better prepare students for the rigor of collegiate education by mirroring similar expectations.  Typically AP courses require higher-level thinking, placing students in a role of strong expectations.  AP curriculum is created for the College Board by a panel of experts and college-level educators in each subject.  For a high school course to have the AP designation, the course must be officially audited by the College Board and granted use.

At the end of an AP course, an AP exam is offered.  A student does not have to be enrolled in the AP course to take the respective AP exam.  However, part of the design of an AP course is to prepare the student for success on the exam.  Students receive a score of 1 to 5, with a score of 3 typically viewed as passing.  Numerous universities will actually grant college-level credit based on a student’s score on an AP exam (typically with a score of 4 or 5).

AP exams are administered on campus during the first two weeks in May, according to the schedule on College Board’s website.  Registration fees change every year. If there are financial concerns regarding payment, please contact Mrs. Hagin for options.

When evaluating competitive applications, 4-year universities weigh a student’s course selection heavily.  Universities want to see students who push themselves toward rigorous challenges, such as AP courses.  In fact, universities often compare the number of AP courses in which a student is enrolled to the available courses at the school.

Currently, Chaparral Star Academy offers the following AP courses:

• Physics 1
• Physics 2
• Calculus AB
• Spanish Language
• Spanish Literature
• English Language
• English Literature
• U.S. History
• World History
• PreCalculus

If you would like further information on AP courses, feel free to visit the College Board website.  Please note that before taking AP courses at CSA, students receive recommendations from administration based on CSA AP PreRequisites.

COURSE CREDIT FOR AP EXAMS

Students may earn credit by exam for subjects in which they have had no prior instruction if the student:

• Scores a three or higher on a College Board advanced placement examination that has been approved by the school district board of trustees for the applicable course,
• Earns a scaled score of 60 or higher on an examination administered through the College-Level Examination Program and approved by the school district board of trustees for the applicable course.

If the student earns credit by exam for a course (via AP or CLEP), the school will record the student’s CBE score as a “pass” mark on the transcript.

Course conversions for credit-by-exams via AP are as follows: