ap & honors parent and student night north cobb high school
TRANSCRIPT
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!