• Advanced Academic Programs

     

    Advanced Placement (AP) is a program that allows high school students to participate in a college level course and possibly earn college credit while still in high school. Students are given the opportunity to show mastery in college-level courses by taking the AP exam in May of each year.

    The College Board is responsible for developing and maintaining college level courses and exams in various subjects. They also report official AP scores to the colleges of the student’s choice. Scores on the AP exam range from 1 (no recommendation) to 5 (extremely qualified). Each individual college determines the scores to be accepted for credit, but most consider a score of at least 3. Colleges may award three, and sometimes six, hours of credit per test depending on their policy.

    PfISD offers Advanced and Accelerated courses classes in middle school and high school. Traditionally these coursesm have been titled Pre-AP; however, College Board no longer allows school districts to title courses with this designation without paying fees to their organization for a standardized curriculum.  PFISD has chosen to continue Advanced and Accelerated courses in our middle and high schools using PFISD curriculum with instructional supports designed to prepare students for Advanced Placement, Dual Credit, and/or OnRamps classes. 

    Advanced and Accelerated Course Guiding Questions 
     
     
     
     
    Accomodations for Test Takers 
     
    The College Board's Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) provides a broad range of accommodations, such as Braille tests, large print, and extended time, to students who provide documentation of a disability. For more information please talk to your campus counselor and visit:  http://professionals.collegeboard.com/testing/ssd.
     
     

     

    Students who complete Advanced Academic courses are:

    • Better prepared academically.
    • More likely to specialize in more challenging majors.
    • Likely to complete more college coursework in four years.
    • Likely to perform significantly better in college than students who did not take AP courses.
    • More likely to exercise leadership.
    • More likely to graduate with a double major.
    • Twice as likely to go into advanced study (Ph.D. Programs, medicine, and law).
    • Have college admission advantages
                                                              -Willingham & Morris, 1986; University of Texas, 1988