Northern Burlington County RegionalHigh School

Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) Program

Our Goal

Ensure that each Northern student is enrolled in the most challenging academic schedule in which he/she can be successful.

Why take on the challenge of Honors and AP Courses?

Impact on Students

➢ Learn more and enjoy school

➢ Develop advanced academic skills

➢ Increase confidence➢ Prepare for college success

Impact on Learning

• June 2015 Extensive Study•Students who take AP Courses and Tests

Earn Higher ACT scores.

“We also believe that these results show the importance and benefits of the AP program for high school students hoping to go to college. Our MMW-S analysis provides the best quasi-experimental evidence available that students’ ACT scores increase as a result of participation in the AP program.”

The Journal of Educational Research“The Impact of Participation in the Advanced Placement Program on Students' College Admissions Test Scores”Russell T. Warnea, Ross Larsenb, Braydon Andersona & Alyce J. Odassoaa Utah Valley Universityb University of VirginiaPublished online: 26 May 2015.

Impact on College Admission

➢“Grades in college preparatory courses, strength of curriculum, admission test scores, and grades in all courses are the most important factors in the college admission decision.”

THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR COLLEGE ADMISSION COUNSELING 2009

➢ Strength of a student’s curriculum is of considerable importance to 82% of the highly selective colleges while only 65% of the least selective colleges view this as considerably important.

➢85% of selective colleges and universities report that a student’s AP experience favorably impacts admission decisions.

2014 Admissions Survey Results

Research Results:Impact on College Success and

Experience

➢AP students who placed into advanced college courses do as well or better than students who have taken introductory courses at the same college.

➢Students who perform well on AP tests have more flexibility in college scheduling allowing for study abroad and other opportunities while still finishing in college in four years

Impact on Cost of College

➢Most students take 5 or 6 years, and sometimes even longer, to earn their bachelor’s degrees at public colleges and universities

➢A 2008 study found that AP students had better four-year graduation rates than those who did not take AP.

For example, [four-year] graduation rates for AP English Literature students were 62 percent higher than graduation rates for those who took other English courses in high school.

Honors vs AP at Northern

Honors courses – More challenging➢ Locally designed➢ Increased rigor➢ Weighted +7 points to GPA

AP courses - Most challenging➢ Curriculum approved by College Board➢ Equivalent to entry level college course➢ National end of course exam each May➢ May earn college credits or advanced placement in

college➢ Weighted + 10 points to GPA class of 2016

Honors Courses

➢English - I,II,III and IV

➢Math - Geometry, Algebra II, Pre-Calculus

➢Science – Biology, Chemistry➢Social Studies – World History US I US II ➢Gifted and Talented Class➢Technology Capstone Material Design and

Engineering

AP Courses

English Social Studies

Science Math Miscellaneous

AP Language and Composition

AP World History

AP Biology

AP Calculus AB

AP Computer Science A

AP Literature and Composition

AP US History I

AP Chemistry

AP Calculus BC

AP Music Theory

  AP US History II

AP EnvironmentalScience

AP Statistics

AP Studio Art 2 D Design

   

AP Psychology

AP Physics 1 AP Spanish Language

AP Physics 2

AP Politics and Government

AP Physics CE& M /Mechanics

AP Spanish Literature

The Advanced Placement Exams➢Not required but expected

Registration and fees – February

Tests - May

➢Scored on scale of 1-5

➢Colleges set policies for credit

AP Honor Roll

2015 AP Program Results➢167 Students took over 300 tests➢72% - scored 3 or higher on one exam➢38 students earned AP Scholar awards

Questions?