• The most prestigious national offering college credit coursework at the High School level
• Advantages over dual enrollment, IB, and Collegiate High
• 34 courses in 19 subject areas
• RBCA currently offers 10 AP courses

• National AP exams given in May
• Scoring System
• Cost
• Your child's college
• AP Scholar Recognition
   *  AP Scholar
   *  AP Scholar with Honors
   *  AP Scholar with Distinction
   *  State, National, International

• What scores are eligible?
• Does it matter if the AP classes are in my child's major?
• Are they positive credits or reduction in credit requirements?
• Should my child retake classes in which they have AP exam passes? AP class passes?

• 10-12 Graders -- Eligible for AP US History (90% or higher in last history class)
• 11-12--AP English Language--1 semester in 11 and 1 semester in 12 (90% or higher in last Grammar class)

• 11-12 AP English Literature -- l semester in 11 and l semester in 12  (90% or higher in Hon British Lit or Hon Jr / Sr Lit)

• 11-12--AP Calculus -- Two different levels (AB or BC) -- (85% or higher in Pre-Cal)
• NEW!  11-12--AP Physics--(90% or better in Physical Science class)
• 11-12--AP Chemistry with Lab -- Second year of Chemistry -- (90% or higher in Hon Chem I)

• Latin --Fourth year Latin students --No Speaking component--(Instructor approval)
• Spanish--Fourth year Spanish students--Speaking component--[Instructor approval)

• NEW!  AP Music Theory--10-12 graders with instructor approval
• Studio Art -- 12th graders with instructor approval -- Portfolio requirement
• Other Tests--Students may sign up for other tests they have studied independently--
  (See list of tests and available practice material at www.collegeboard.com)

• Always better to test immediately after last class in subject
• English Language/Literature option
• Instructor/AP Coordinator input

• College Paced classed a good preparation
• GPA hits?
• Confidence factor
• 70% pass rate

      Some of you may be aware that during this past year, we completed our sixth year of participation in the Advanced Placement (AP) program.  AP gives students an opportunity to take college-level courses and exams while still in high school.  There are 34 courses in 19 subject areas, offered by 13,000 secondary schools around the world. In 2002, 1.5 million exams were taken by 938,000 students. Students enjoy the challenge of taking AP courses with enthusiastic classmates and teachers; high school faculty find that AP courses enhance their students' confidence and academic interest as well as their  school's reputation; and college faculty report that AP students are far better prepared for serious academic work. In addition, we believe an AP program will help RBCA students who wish to attend selective or competitive out-of-state colleges and universities. These courses are significantly more challenging then college-prep or honors courses. These are college courses. Students are expected to have mastered all material covered in prerequisite courses. AP courses also often require a high degree of independent world significant levels of outside reading, and a thorough understanding of the concepts inherent in a given subject.

AP courses are designed to prepare students to take the appropriate AP exam in May. The AP course outlines are based on the published outlines published by the Advanced Placement committees. The scores on the AP exams are graded on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the highest. Scores of  3 may earn college credit  and are considered a passing AP score; a 4 or 5 will earn credit at most colleges. Many colleges will grant sophomore status with passes on five or more AP exams.  AP results are accepted nationwide at top schools (unlike most credit hours earned at the community college level as a dual-enrolled student.) Parents and students should consult the admission offices of Colleges of interest to determine specific policies.

In March, the RBCA AP coordinator will consult with individual AP Instructors and parents of AP students to determine which students will take the AP exams.  Unlike many schools, RBCA does not require AP students to take the exams as a condition of passing the course.  This year we  are collecting an additional $60 fee from each participating student in each AP class.  These fees go toward the student's exam fee.  If a student does not take the exam, then the unused fees will be applied toward future AP teacher training.  The exams cost approximately $80 per test.  This fee is established by the College Board;  RBCA simply collects the fees for the College Board.  

     We have just finished our most successful year of AP work ever.  We administered sixty-nine AP exams the last two weeks of school to forty-one students in ten courses (English Language, English Literature, AB Calculus, Spanish, Chemistry, US History, Physics, Music Theory, French and Latin.)  Our results won't be in until July, but we are hopeful that we matched or improved on our seventy percent pass rate of last year (a rate considered excellent even for longtime AP programs.)   Our plan is to help students earn college credit in as many of our courses as we can, thus saving our graduates both time and expensive college tuition.

       We would like you to consider your child's participation in the AP Program.   Students participating in the AP English  Literature will have a mandatory summer assignment.  Listed below are offered courses with eligible requirements.

• AP English Language - Any JR/SR in Mrs. Thomas' advanced group. (90% or higher in previous Grammar class.) 

• AP English Literature - Any 11-12 literature student is eligible. (90% or higher in Brit Lit. or Honors 11 - 12 Lit)

• AP  AB Calculus - Any first year Calculus student is eligible (85% or higher in Pre-Cal)

• AP  BC Calculus - Any second year Calculus student is eligible.

• AP Latin/Vergil - Any fourth year Latin Student with instructor approval is eligible.

• AP Spanish - Any fourth year Spanish student with instructor approval is eligible.

• AP Studio Art  - Any JR/SR art student with instructor approval is eligible.

• AP Physics- Any JR/SR student with instructor approval is eligible. (90% or higher in Physical Science.)

• AP Chemistry - Any second year Chemistry student is eligible. (90% or higher in Hon Chem I)

• AP US History - Any 10-12 student with instructor approval is eligible. (90% or higher in last History Class) 

• AP Music Theory--Any 10-12 student with instructor approval is eligible.
  
  In Christ's service,
  
  Dr. Michael Mosley
  Academy Principal

 
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