AP & HonorsAP & HonorsParent and Student Parent and Student

NightNight

North Cobb High SchoolNorth Cobb High School

What is Honors?What is Honors?

Honors courses are taught at a faster pace and Honors courses are taught at a faster pace and cover more material in greater depth than cover more material in greater depth than regular level classes. regular level classes.

Honors courses, except for most 9Honors courses, except for most 9thth grade grade courses, carry an extra .5 quality point. (not courses, carry an extra .5 quality point. (not for HOPE core)for HOPE core)

Honors level courses best prepare Honors level courses best prepare students for Advanced Placement Courses students for Advanced Placement Courses as well as the rigor of college coursesas well as the rigor of college courses

What is the Advanced What is the Advanced Placement Program?Placement Program?

AP provides students with the opportunity AP provides students with the opportunity to try college work while in high school.to try college work while in high school.

AP gives students the opportunity to learn AP gives students the opportunity to learn valuable skills and study habitsvaluable skills and study habits

AP is designed by college professors and AP is designed by college professors and secondary school teachers. College secondary school teachers. College professors also help score exams to verify professors also help score exams to verify mastery of college material in AP coursesmastery of college material in AP courses

Benefits of APBenefits of AP Subjects are studied in greater depthSubjects are studied in greater depth Students will discover areas of strength Students will discover areas of strength

and weaknessand weakness Students will be preparing for the rigor Students will be preparing for the rigor

of college workof college work Students will build good study habitsStudents will build good study habits Students will improve writing skillsStudents will improve writing skills Students will gain the realization that Students will gain the realization that

they can excel as they face their they can excel as they face their challengeschallenges

Don’t forget these Don’t forget these benefits…benefits…

Gives you an edge on your college Gives you an edge on your college applicationapplication

Saves you money on college tuitionSaves you money on college tuition Helps you develop your potential in Helps you develop your potential in

the classroomthe classroom Helps shape clearer goals for your Helps shape clearer goals for your

futurefuture Students more likely to graduate from Students more likely to graduate from

college on timecollege on time

What is Different?What is Different? Honors and AP classes are more Honors and AP classes are more

demandingdemanding

AP classes are similar to first year AP classes are similar to first year college coursescollege courses

Students are asked to read and write Students are asked to read and write moremore

Students must learn to evaluate and Students must learn to evaluate and critically analyze materialcritically analyze material

This means:This means:

Discussions are intense, probing and Discussions are intense, probing and demandingdemanding

Students are required to think for themselves, Students are required to think for themselves, not give answers to please the teachernot give answers to please the teacher

Homework involves thinking for yourself, Homework involves thinking for yourself, expressing your ideas and analyzing what you expressing your ideas and analyzing what you read.read.

The classes teach you to analyze, reason and The classes teach you to analyze, reason and understandunderstand

Who Should take AP Who Should take AP Classes?Classes?

All students who are willing to accept All students who are willing to accept the challenge of a rigorous academic the challenge of a rigorous academic curriculum curriculum

AP Potential AP Potential Students should take into consideration Students should take into consideration

theirtheir

-interests-interests

-motivation-motivation

-strengths and weaknesses-strengths and weaknesses

AP Courses offered at North AP Courses offered at North CobbCobb

AP English LiteratureAP English Literature AP English LanguageAP English Language AP StatisticsAP Statistics AP Calculus AB/BCAP Calculus AB/BC AP BiologyAP Biology AP ChemistryAP Chemistry AP PhysicsAP Physics AP Environmental ScienceAP Environmental Science AP World HistoryAP World History AP U.S. HistoryAP U.S. History AP European HistoryAP European History

AP U.S. Government & AP U.S. Government & PoliticsPolitics

AP Comparative AP Comparative Government & PoliticsGovernment & Politics

AP MicroeconomicsAP Microeconomics AP MacroeconomicsAP Macroeconomics AP PsychologyAP Psychology AP Human GeographyAP Human Geography AP French LanguageAP French Language AP Spanish LanguageAP Spanish Language AP German LanguageAP German Language AP Studio ArtAP Studio Art AP Music TheoryAP Music Theory

AP at North CobbAP at North Cobb

AP Certified SchoolAP Certified School All AP teachers receive special trainingAll AP teachers receive special training NCHS is an AP Access and Support NCHS is an AP Access and Support

School with at least 30% of test takers School with at least 30% of test takers identified as African American or identified as African American or Hispanic and over 50% percent scoring Hispanic and over 50% percent scoring 3 or higher3 or higher

Received a grant from the State to Received a grant from the State to train additional teacherstrain additional teachers

The AP ExamThe AP Exam Administered on a nationally established scheduleAdministered on a nationally established schedule

May 4May 4thth –May 15th –May 15th

Typically three hour exams that include a multiple Typically three hour exams that include a multiple choice section and either essays or problemschoice section and either essays or problems

Measures reasoning skills and the ability to Measures reasoning skills and the ability to analyze facts and data, synthesize information, analyze facts and data, synthesize information, think critically about complex issues and negotiate think critically about complex issues and negotiate competing perspectivescompeting perspectives

Grading Scale for AP Grading Scale for AP ExamsExams

Each exam is graded using a 5 point Each exam is graded using a 5 point scalescale 5 – Extremely qualified5 – Extremely qualified 4 – Well qualified4 – Well qualified 3 – Qualified3 – Qualified 2 – Possibly qualified2 – Possibly qualified 1 – Not qualified1 – Not qualified

An AP grade of 3 or higher can qualify An AP grade of 3 or higher can qualify you for college credit or placement at you for college credit or placement at most U.S. colleges and universitiesmost U.S. colleges and universities

What’s the Difference?What’s the Difference?Credit or PlacementCredit or Placement

CreditCredit Earn points/credits Earn points/credits

toward college toward college degree degree requirementsrequirements

PlacementPlacement Skip introductory Skip introductory

coursescourses Enter a higher level Enter a higher level

coursecourse Fulfill general Fulfill general

education education requirementsrequirements

Can be offered Can be offered both placement both placement and credit by many and credit by many collegescolleges

Allows you to move Allows you to move into upper level into upper level courses sooner, courses sooner, pursue a double pursue a double major, gain time to major, gain time to study and time to study and time to travel abroadtravel abroad

What counts?What counts?

Check directly with the collegeCheck directly with the college

Check the College Board websiteCheck the College Board website www.collegeboard.com/ap/creditpolicywww.collegeboard.com/ap/creditpolicy

Type in the name of the institution or Type in the name of the institution or browse by letter of alphabetbrowse by letter of alphabet

How much do AP Exams How much do AP Exams cost?cost?

The state of Georgia pays for the first test The state of Georgia pays for the first test for each student in a given yearfor each student in a given year

All other tests in a given year are $86 eachAll other tests in a given year are $86 each

There is an $20 administration fee per There is an $20 administration fee per studentstudent

Students who are eligible for free or Students who are eligible for free or reduced lunch receive qualify for a fee reduced lunch receive qualify for a fee reductionreduction

Rigor vs. Final GPARigor vs. Final GPA

Colleges and universities are more interested in students who take a course load that has academic rigor than one that has a 4.0 GPA without any rigorous coursework

Not only is rigor what the post-secondary schools are looking for, rigorous courses will help prepare you for success at the college level.

What if my student What if my student isn’t ready for AP?isn’t ready for AP?

The emphasis should be on the highest The emphasis should be on the highest level of instruction at which the student is level of instruction at which the student is capable of performing rather than the capable of performing rather than the grade the student might receive. grade the student might receive.

College registrars say they do recognize College registrars say they do recognize the difference between the honors and the difference between the honors and regular level courses.regular level courses.

Consider the AVID programConsider the AVID program

A.V.I.D.A.V.I.D.(Advancement Via Individual (Advancement Via Individual

Determination)Determination) Enables first time honors/AP students to Enables first time honors/AP students to

take risks by enrolling in rigorous take risks by enrolling in rigorous coursescourses

Provides a support course designed for Provides a support course designed for student needsstudent needs

Builds confidence for success and Builds confidence for success and provides skills necessary for rigorous provides skills necessary for rigorous courseworkcoursework

Provides instruction, coaching and Provides instruction, coaching and resources for successresources for success

Academic Booster ClubAcademic Booster Club

Please join!Please join! The purpose of the ABC is to The purpose of the ABC is to

establish an environment of establish an environment of academic excellence for students academic excellence for students

Recognize students for academic Recognize students for academic achievement and improvementachievement and improvement

Contact Judy Kelly in room 459Contact Judy Kelly in room 459

Governor’s HonorsGovernor’s Honors GHP is a six-week GHP is a six-week

summer instructional summer instructional program designed to program designed to provide intellectually provide intellectually gifted and artistically gifted and artistically talented high school talented high school students challenging and students challenging and enriching educational enriching educational opportunities. opportunities.

Students in 10Students in 10thth and 11 and 11thth grade are nominated by grade are nominated by teachers and begin with teachers and begin with an interview process at an interview process at the school levelthe school level

Curriculum Areas:Curriculum Areas: Communicative ArtsCommunicative Arts MathMath ScienceScience Social StudiesSocial Studies Foreign Language Foreign Language Visual Arts, Music, Visual Arts, Music,

Theater, DanceTheater, Dance Design, Technology Design, Technology

and Executive and Executive ManagementManagement

So What’s Next…So What’s Next… For us:For us:

Recognition of students Recognition of students for taking the more for taking the more rigorous courseworkrigorous coursework

Provide support and Provide support and guidance to AP studentsguidance to AP students

Summer AP Boot Camp Summer AP Boot Camp Parent communication Parent communication

to keep you up to date to keep you up to date on everything from on everything from testing to registrationtesting to registration

For you:For you: Be supportive parentsBe supportive parents Shift the focus from the Shift the focus from the

grade to the learninggrade to the learning When you check grades When you check grades

remember that:remember that: There are typically fewer There are typically fewer

“grades” in an “grades” in an AP/Honors courseAP/Honors course

The grades may not The grades may not initially be the same as initially be the same as they have “always been”they have “always been”

Current AP StudentsCurrent AP Students

AP Student PanelAP Student Panel

Thank You!Thank You!