The Advanced
Placement Program (AP) is a series of thirty-five courses and exams
in nineteen different subject areas administered by The College Board for
students willing and able to apply themselves to a college level course
while still in high school, thus serving as an "academic bridge"
that helps smooth the transition from secondary school to college. Nearly
14,000 secondary schools offered AP courses and 845,000 students took 1.4
million AP exams. Nationally, the average number of courses offered by a
high school AP program is six. In other words, Rocky Mountain High School
offers a challenging and rigorous curriculum - one that competes and succeeds.
The AP Program develops course descriptions, curricular outlines, teaching
guides and examinations; provides teacher training and support programs;
grades AP Examinations in these subject areas; and reports AP Examination
results to the students, the colleges which the student selects, and high
schools. A student earns high school credit for taking the AP course and
can earn college credit for exam scores of 3, 4, and 5. A student can
take the AP course without taking the AP exam or take the AP exam without
taking the AP course.
"All students benefit when AP permeates the system, as teachers
in earlier grades start to prepare students for the challenge of AP."
-- AP Yearbook
RATIONALE
Academic Challenge
AP Provides "schools a means of measuring and improving the quality
of the education they provide, challenging their
academically able students. . . ."
Is not a preset curriculum. Students have the opportunity to excel in
several subjects or subjects of individual interest
Teaches students to think and to question in complex and abstract ways
Enthusiastic teachers and classmates
College Environment
AP is a valid predictor of college-level achievement.
AP students who take advanced courses in their first year of college do
as well or better than upper division students.
AP students are twice as likely to graduate with honors from college as
non-AP students.
Financial
Advanced Placement credit allows a student to finish college early saving
$33,000 per year in a private school and $13,000 per year at CU or CSU.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSES
Computer Science AB
Computer Science A
*Calculus AB
*Calculus BC
*Statistics
*Chemistry
*Physics B
Physics C - Mechanics
Physics C - Electricity and Magnetism
*Biology
*Environmental Science
Art and Music
Music Theory
Art History
*Studio Art: Drawing, 2-D, 3-D
History and Social Studies
*Government & Politics: Comparative
*Government & Politics: United States
History (*European, *United States, World)
*Human Geography
*Economics: Macro
*Economics: Micro
*Psychology
World Languages
Spanish (*Language, Literature)
French (*Language, Literature)
Latin: Vergil
Latin: Literature
*German Language
English
*Literature & Composition
*Language & Composition
International English Language
*denotes AP course offerings at Rocky Mountain High School
Adjusted Bonus Points System - Adjusted GPA
The adjusted GPA system is a variation on a weighted grading system.
It will enable students to earn bonus points of .002 for each credit earned
in Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses
in which students receive a grade of A, B, or C. The bonus point factor
of .002 is multiplied by the total number of AP or IB credits earned by
students and added to the existing GPA. This means student graduating
in 2005 and beyond can earn GPAs higher than 4.0.
GPA Bonus Point System Calculation Example
| Total student credit earned |
275
|
|
| GPA before bonus points are applied: |
|
3.86
|
| |
|
|
| Total AP or IB credits earned |
35
|
|
| Multiplied by bonus factor of |
x.002
|
|
| Bonus points earned |
.07
|
|
| |
|
|
| GPA after bonus points are applied |
|
3.93
|
ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOL AP PROGRAM
Calculus - Mr. Mark Brook, Mr. Todd Pfeifer
Statistics - Mr. Derek Widmier
Chemistry - Mr. Glenn Gainley
Physics - Ms. Kara Quinlan
Biology - Ms. Carol Seemueller
Environmental Science - Mr. David Swartz
Studio Art - Mr. Jay Dukart
Economics - Ms. Lynne Lyell
Human Geography - Mr. Robert Parry, Ms. Amy Barrier
European History - Mr. John Robinson
U.S. History - Mr. Kurt Knierim, Mr. John Robinson
Government and Politics - Mr. Thomas List
French - Ms. Kari Bridenbaugh
German - Ms. Jennifer Roper
Spanish - Ms. Stephanie Silveira
English - Mr. Paul DeMaret, Mr. Tom Smailes
AP Coordinator: Ms. Marian Kolstoe
"When a student is challenged, as in an AP course, it makes sense
that that student is better prepared for the academic rigors of college
and deserves close consideration as a candidate."
§ - John Bunnell-Associate, Dean/Director of Freshman Admission,
Stanford University
For more information about the AP program visit the College Board web
site at www.apcentral.collegeboard.com
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