What is Advanced Placement (AP)?
The most rigorous high school courses available
Enables motivated students to pursue college-level studies while
still in high school.
There are 38 AP possible courses; Centennial currently offers 15
and has offered additional courses in previous years
Each course culminates in a college-level assessment (AP Exam)
in May. A passing exam equates to 101-level college credit.
Centennial leads PUSD in number of AP tests taken.
Which Courses Do We Offer?English and
Interdisciplinary
History and Social
Sciences
Math and Computer
Science
Science
Seminar Human Geography Calculus AB Biology
Language and
Composition
United States
History
Calculus BC Chemistry
Literature and
Composition
Statistics Environmental
Science
Research Computer Science A Physics 1
Computer Science
Principles
Which Courses Could We Add?Arts History and Social
Sciences
World Languages Science
2-D Art and Design European History French Physics 2
3-D Art and Design United States
Government and
Politics
Spanish Physics C Courses
Art History Macroeconomics
Drawing Microeconomics
Music Theory Psychology
Centennial’s AP Capstone PROGRAM
This is a diploma program that is
recognized around the country.
AP Seminar
(10th grade)
AP Research
(12th grade)
4 AP courses
You choose
Opportunity for College Credit at a fraction of the cost.
Save money and time. Examples:
AP Lang (APLAC) – ENG 101
AP Lit – Humanities Credit or ENG 101
AP Calc I - Calc I
RISK: Credit is contingent on earning a “passing” scores on the AP
test. Credit is university specific. Generally a 3 is “passing”.
Ex: AP Calc I: ASU, U of A, NAU, GCU = 3, USC = 4, Harvard = 5
Centennial High School
Short Term Benefits of AP
AP classes will provide a level of rigor that will help our Coyotes on
the ACT.
ACT is the most important test our Coyotes will take their entire
high school career.
Colleges prefer students who take an AP test over those that do
not (e.g. UCLA).
AP test is more reliable than a grade.
AP Capstone Diploma
Centennial High School
Medium Term Benefits of AP
Centennial High School
ACT and GPA are synergistic
How can we increase a students’ chance of
staying in college?
How can we minimize the financial burdens of
student loans, course failures, retakes, etc.?
AP Students Persevere and Earn Degrees
Centennial High School
Long Term Benefits of AP
AP courses and exams engage students in
College-level critical thinking
Scholarly writing
Self-discipline and perseverance
Time management
Centennial High School
Long Term Benefits of AP
RISK – potentially lower GPA
Parents on Social Media
NAU Lumberjack Scholarship – Covers Full Tuition
“No grade lower than a B” – 1 make up (3.5 Core GPA)
Keep Scholarship = maintain a 3.0
Study of 122,000 Transcripts – Average student GPA declined by
.47 (half a letter grade) from HS to college (NACAC).
Students who took one or more AP Exams, regardless of score
were more likely to graduate in 4 years (Mattern, Marini, &
Shaw; 2013).
Centennial High School
Long Term Benefits of AP
Variety of AP Strategies:
Take Courses that Align with Interests or Anticipated Major
Take Tests that Align with Interests or Anticipated Major
Mix Honors and AP Classes
Pursue dual enrollment credit instead of AP
Which AP Classes Should I Take?
Learn About Your Options
Visit with our AP Teachers
Check out the AP Website
Know Centennial Course Registration Dates
Know AP Test Registration Timelines and Costs
Call Us If You Need Help or Have Questions: Mrs. Kate Hoffner
What’s Next?
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