Welcome To AP Parent Night

Graduation With Distinction

• Statistics show that students who take the AP classes and tests are more likely to graduate from a four-year university.

• A recent study shows that 57 percent of the students who passed an AP test in high school earned a bachelor’s degree within five years. *

Graduation With Distinction

• Compare: 37 percent of the students who took the AP test, but did not pass it, earned a degree.*

• Compare: 17 percent of the students who did not take an AP test, earned a degree within five years.*

• Taking the AP Class and its test makes a big difference in success.

AP Program At Millikan

• Millikan’s AP Program is on the move; ranked as one of America’s top five percent of high schools last year by Newsweek.

• Millikan teachers have their courses audited by the College Board for university rigor; yet have experience in making work relevant to high school students.

• AP courses increase your child’s college opportunities because course rigor improves GPA and is part of admissions criteria.

How Is College Credit Awarded

• Each university has its own policy on accepting AP credit.

• Visit the College Board Web site at http://www.collegeboard.com/apcreditpolicy/index.jsp

• Tips for navigation: search by college or visit the individual college web site and type in “AP Credit Policy”

Upper Tier Universities (Private, UC)

• Search via college board, may need to enter “AP Credits” at the collegiate site.

• George Washington University, Washington, DC• Accepts 4, 5• Sample credits:• Art:History of Art 4 or 5 6 hours AH 31-32 • Biology 4 or 5 8 hours BISC 11-12 Chemistry 4 or 5 8 hours

CHEM 11-12 • Economics: Macroeconomics 4 or 5 3 hours ECON 12

English Language and Composition 4 or 5 3 hours ENGL 99 English Literature and Composition 5 6 hours ENGL 51-52 4 3 hours ENGL 52

Local and State Universities• California State University, Long Beach• Available at College Board Site• Accepts 3 or above, depending on the course • Sample Credits:• AP Exam for Biology (AP20) Score of 3 B.1a Life Science

w/lab BIOL 200 - 4 units, & 2 units BIOL electives Biology (AP20) Score of 4 B.1a Life Science w/lab BIOL 211A - 5 units, & 1 unit BIOL elective Biology (AP20) Score of 5

• Language & Comp (AP36) Score of 3-5 A.1 ENGL 100 - 3 units, & 3 units ENGL electives English:Literature & Comp (AP37) Score of 3-5 A.1 & C.2a ENGL 100 - 3 units, & ENGL 180 - 3 units

Guidelines for Parents

Parents can help their children succeed in AP classes

When Parents Are Involved:

• Students achieve more--despite socioeconomic status and parent’s level of education.

• Students exhibit more positive attitudes and behavior about their education.

• In fact, according to their research, “The most accurate predictor of a student’s achievement in school is the extent to which that student’s family is able to

(1) create a home environment that encourages learning;

(2) communicate high, yet reasonable, expectations for their children’s achievement and future careers; and

(3) become involved in their children’s education.”

How To Support Your AP Student

1. Provide a quiet place at home for study.2. Insist that students accept responsibility for

learning and behavior.3. Model the importance of life-long learning.

Supporting Your AP Student

4. Establish high expectations. Do not accept minimum effort or indifference to quality work.

5. Know what is expected. Communicate questions or concerns to teachers.

6. Insist on good attendance.

Each Student Will Be Expected to:

1. Learn independently and appreciate learning.

2. Solve problems; know where and how to get relevant information.

3. Analyze and synthesize knowledge.4. Be a creative and imaginative thinker.5. Have good collaborative skills.

Each Student Will Be Expected to:

6. Have a strong foundation in traditional course areas.

7. Possess good speaking, writing, reading, and listening skills.

8. Recognize values and underlying biases. 9. Engage in disciplined work habits.10. Respect honest differences of opinion and

ambiguity.

Award Levels

• AP Scholar• Receive grades of 3 or higher on three or

more AP Exams• AP Scholar With Honor• Receive an average grade of at least 3.5 on all

AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.

Award Levels

• AP Scholar With Distinction• Average grade of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams

taken, and grades of 3 or higher on five or more of the exams.

• AP State Scholar• Average grade of at least 3 or higher on the

greatest number of exams (at least three exams), and then the highest average grade (at least 3.5) on all AP Exams taken.

AP Award Levels

• National AP Scholar• Receive an average grade of at least 4 on all

AP Exams taken, and grades of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams.

Works Cited

• Dougherty, Chrys, Mellor, Lynn, Jian, Shuling, Jian. “The Relationship Between Advanced

Placement and College Graduation.” The National Center for Educational Accountability, 2005.

• DuFour, Richard and Robert Eaker. Professional Learning Communities At Work. Bloomington:

National Education Service, 1998.• Mathews, Jay. “A Chart Exposes High School

Malpractice.” washingtonpost.com. Downloaded on 23 November 2004.