the advanced placement program at west forsyth high school dr. tom fowler mrs. donna duncan ap...

The Advanced Placement Program

at West Forsyth High School

Dr. Tom Fowler Mrs. Donna DuncanAP Coordinator Assistant AP Coordinator

What is AP?

A challenging set of academic courses based on college-level curricula.

Rigorous end-of-course examinations graded against national standards.

Students will meet both College Board curriculum requirements, as well as Georgia’s.

Why Colleges Like the AP Program

Common curriculum across the nation. Professional development

institutes and seminars for teachers in the program.

Standardized assessments each year that are the same for all students.

Students better prepared for academic rigor of college

Benefits of the AP Program

For Students

– College credit– Academic challenge– Academic skills needed for college– Increase in self-confidence, motivation, and

academic orientation

The Rewards of AP

Prepares students for success in college by taking college-level courses while still in high school

– Explore advanced topics -- study in greater depth

– Develop advanced skills -- form disciplined study habits

– Build confidence in capability to succeed in college

The Rewards of AP

Opportunity to earn college credit or advanced placement

– Possible tuition savings– Save money in unused textbooks– Flexibility in college course choice– Early entry to graduate/professional schools

Students who Participate…

Outperform their peers when placed into advanced courses.

More likely to take advanced courses in their AP subject areas.

More likely to choose challenging majors. More likely to graduate with a double major. Twice as likely to go into advanced study.

Sequence of Courses9th grade – Human Geography, Biology,

Psychology10th grade – World History, Biology,

Psychology, Human Geography11th and 12th grade – any of 18 remaining22 AP Courses offered at WestCapstone is the newest additionSecond year of Computer Science in

2016-17

WFHS Honors

Honors English 9Honors English 10Honors Biology (9th)

WFHS Valedictorians

Every Valedictorian since 2011:AP Human GeographyHonors English 9Honors English 10Honors BiologyHonors ChemistryBetween 14 and 17 AP/DL Calculus

2015-16

11 of top 12, including top six:AP Human GeographyHonors English 9Honors English 10Honors BiologyHonors ChemistryBetween 12 and 17 AP/DL courses

What Counts in College Admissions

% citing “considerably important”

6

14

39

42

46

82

0 20 40 60 80 100

Work/School Activity

Essay

Overall Grades

Class Rank

SAT Scores

Courses Selected

1992 NACAC SurveyCollege Admissions Officials

West and UGA 2015 EarlyDecision

Accepted 43 4.12 GPA 10.42 AP Courses at WestDeferred 19 3.81 GPA 7.16 AP Courses at WestDenied 4 3.5 GPA 6.75 AP Courses at West

West and Georgia Tech

2010 – 2014205 Applied, 50% admitted, 59

matriculated95.8% 1st year retention rate (95.2%

Institution)HS GPA – 4.01Average # of AP courses – 11 (8

Institution)Year one GPA – 3.21 vs. 3.20 Institution

West Forsyth by the Numbers 909 students took at least one AP Exam in 2015 1090 students taking at least one AP course 22 AP Courses offered at West 127 Freshmen taking AP 587 (54%) taking two or more AP Courses 164 taking three AP Courses 70 taking four AP Courses 49 taking five AP Courses 10 taking six AP Courses (+8 Tech DL Calculus) 1 taking seven AP Courses

West Forsyth by the Numbers

AP Merit School – 20% or more of students take an AP Exam and at least half of exams score a 3 or higher

Earned this distinction in 2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2014-15

Will earn it again for 2015-2016 AP STEM School and AP STEM Achievement

school in those years AP Humanities School

West Forsyth by the Numbers

AP Scholar Distinction In 2014-2015, 315 West students earned an AP

Scholar Distinction (of 909 students who took AP – 35% vs. 20% nationally)

17 National AP Scholars (Avg. 4 or higher on all AP Exams; score of 4 or higher on eight or more exams)

100 AP Scholars with Distinction (Avg. 3.5 or higher on all AP Exams; score of 3 or higher on five or more exams)

69 AP Scholars with Honors (Avg. 3.25 or higher on all AP Exams; score of 3 or higher on four or more exams)

146 AP Scholars (score of 3 or higher on three or more exams)

AP Capstone Diploma Program

Only school in Forsyth currently offeringOne of nine schools in Georgia 11th (Seminar) and 12th grade (Research)Develops analytic, research, problem-

solving, and communication skillsCulminates in 5000 word thesis paper

Miscellaneous Thoughts

ExamsBest Preparation for SAT/ACT3 or higher - 70% of ALL 1791 West

exams in 2015-2016

What Parents are Saying

AP Contacts

AP Centralhttp://apcentral.collegeboard.com

Colleges’ AP Credit Policieshttp://apps.collegeboard.com/apcreditpolicy/index.jsp

AP Student Resourceswww.collegeboard.com/?student

AP Parent Resourceshttp://www.collegeboard.com/parents/

Contact WFHS AP Coordinators:

Dr. Tom Fowler tfowler@forsyth.k12.ga.us770-888-3470 Ext: 332167

Mrs. Donna Duncandduncan@forsyth.k12.ga.us770-888-3470 Ext: 332903