Advanced Placement, Legacy Schools, and YOU

• 80% of students now aspire to earn a college degree. This figure has doubled since 1980.

• Based on trends since 1990, less than half of these students will achieve this dream.

College Ready?

College Ready?Percent of high school seniors attending college:

1972: 58%

2008: 72%

Percent of these students earning a college degree:

1972: 48%

2008: 48%

College Ready?Only 33% of high school graduates meet the basic

requirements of colleges and universities.

• African American………………..…………….…….…..20%• American Indian…………….……………………..……14%• Asian American……………....…………..........……….38%• Hispanic…………………………..……………...………16%• White……………………………..………………………37%

College Ready?• 28% of entering freshmen take a non-

credit remedial course. • 41% of students take a non-credit

remedial course at some point during college.

• Only 17% of students who have to take a remedial course will ever earn a degree.

Benefits of Taking AP Courses

• Students who master AP coursework are 3 times more likely to graduate from college.

• Passing just one AP course increases the prospect of graduating college from 30% to 72%.

• Students who take just one AP course and do NOT pass the exam are 24% more likely to graduate from college.

• More likely to choose more challenging majors, double major, and go into advanced study.

Impact of AP on College Graduation Rates

Student Group Qualifying Score Achieved

Qualifying Score Not Achieved

African-American

28% higher 22% higher

Hispanic 28% higher 12% higher

White 33% higher 22% higher

Low-Income 26% higher 17% higher

Not Low-Income

34% higher 23% higher

Factors College Admissions Consider “Highly Influential”

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ACT/SAT S

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102030405060708090

Responsibilities of Taking AP Courses

• Actively engage with sophisticated concepts

• Be judged by rigorous, college-level standards.

• Complete longer and more complex nightly assignments.

• Complete the AP Examination in May.

Supports (sponsored by the US DOE)

• Saturday Study Sessions • Structured Tutorials• 50% off the cost of the exam• The newest equipment! • The best trained teachers!• $100 for every score of 3 or above

Next Steps1. Pick a subject you are interested in

2. See that teacher to get a realistic idea of what the course will be like

3. Sign up with your counselor, work hard and enjoy the benefits!

What AP Courses Does Northridge Offer?

• Biology- Ryan Evans• Calculus- Matt Monroe• Chemistry- Lisa Johnson• Computer Science- Tonya

Davies• English Language & Comp-

Beth Graham and Diane Patterson

• English Literature & Comp-Josh Seematter

• Environmental Science-Jill Crookshanks

• Music Theory- Rick Grotzky

• Physics- Mike Wheeler• Psychology- Mark

Morehead• Spanish- Jenise Davis• Statistics- Emel Meadors• US Government/Politics-

Jeff Fulton• US History- Darrin Ekern• Human Geography- TBA

Who Can Help Me?Administrators:

• Principal- Wesley Paxton• Assistant Principal-

Jennifer Ryan• Assistant Principal- Kim

Zulauf

Counselors/Coordinators:• Shannon Madden (A-F)• Jeff Abrahamson (G-H)• Bethany Balderrama (I-P)• Brett Fedor (Q-Z)• Advanced Placement

Coordinator- Mark Morehead• Advanced Placement Test

Coordinator- Jeff Abrahamson• AVID Coordinator- Aspen Falter