Advanced Placement (AP) Program

List of 3 items.

• What is AP?

  AP provides motivated and academically prepared students with the opportunity to earn college credit, advanced placement, or both. AP courses help students develop the study skills, habits of mind, and critical thinking abilities that will be required in college and beyond.

  
  AP is recognized by more than 3,600 colleges and universities worldwide for college credit, advanced placement, or both on the basis of successful AP Exam scores. This includes over 90% of four-year institutions in the United States. Individual institutions, not the AP Program or the College Board, set their own policies for awarding credit and/or placement. To learn an institution’s specific AP credit and placement policy, students can visit the College Board website or contact the institution directly.

• Why AP?

  • Earn college credit
  • Prepare for college-level rigor
  • Develop strong study habits and time-management skills
  • Build critical thinking, writing, and problem-solving skills
  • Strengthen college applications
  • Explore academic interests in depth
  • Challenge yourself and grow as a learner

• AP vs Dual Enrollment

  While both AP and dual enrollment offer college-level coursework, AP courses are often the stronger choice for college-bound students. AP classes are taught by high school teachers who receive specialized College Board training and follow a nationally recognized curriculum, ensuring consistent academic rigor no matter where students take them. Colleges across the country, including selective universities, readily recognize AP courses and exam scores for credit or placement.
  
  Dual enrollment credit, on the other hand, is awarded by individual colleges and may not always transfer, especially to out-of-state or private universities. (Note that the UC system looks at APs and dual enrollment classes equally.) AP keeps doors open: students demonstrate readiness for college-level work while earning credit that is widely accepted and respected. Credit policies differ, so always check with specific colleges about their requirements or visit the College Board website.