RMHS accepts three types of students into AP Chemistry: AP students take it to get college credit either through the AP test, CSU, the CLEP test or by challenging their chemistry courses when they get to college. (Over the years Rocky students have received college credit via all of these avenues.) Competitive Edge students gain a decided competitive edge in college chemistry by taking AP Chemistry and then becoming the best students in their freshman college courses. This is especially important at exclusive colleges like Northwestern that expect freshmen chemistry students to have had a second-year chemistry course before they enter the university. Often students are accepted to exclusive universities on the basis of the fact that they took the AP course in high school. Survival Insurance students are in AP Chemistry because a second year of chemistry in high school will enhance their ability to thrive in freshman college chemistry.
Unlike many high schools across the USA, RMHS does not screen potential AP Chemistry students. We strongly believe that some average and below average students can and do benefit from taking AP Chemistry. The class is taught in such a way that enables slower students and challenges advanced students. The only requirements are that each student has the prerequisite (chemistry), likes chemistry and is willing to work hard. Because of the abstract nature of chemistry, it is often a very difficult class for all but mature students. Therefore, freshman chemistry at the college level is a class that is used by most universities to effectively weed out weaker students. Our rationale for accepting average students into the AP Chemistry program is to enable the motivated ones to survive and excel in the freshman college experience. Often all that is needed to make a difference in an average student's academic life is to give him or her more experience with chemistry before he or she gets to college. Rocky's sequence of science courses leading up to and including AP has successfully enabled students to elevate their goals. AP chemistry acts as an effective bridge to their success. Rocky measures its success as a school not only by our ability to empower bright students who are destined to do well, but also by our ability to enable less talented students and to make a significant difference in their academic lives.