Advanced Placement & Honors

The Advanced Placement Program® consists of 34 college-level courses and exams in 19 subject areas designed for highly motivated students in secondary schools . A passing score on an AP exam usually entitles students to some degree of credit or advancement during their freshman year in college (check with the college or university in question, as specifics vary widely) .

Most schools offer some of the subjects for which exams are available and offer preparation for the exams in addition to course content in the subject . Although students may sign up to take any exam at any participating test center based on independent study, most prefer to enroll in an AP course and take the exam in May with their classmates.  Every year, interested and qualified Saint Mary’s students take AP exams in various subjects . Students may elect to enroll in one or more of the various AP courses offered to upper division students.

Advanced Placement courses generally require preparation (homework, projects, reading, writing, tests, and quizzes) that is more in depth and time-consuming than regular classes .

When planning their schedule, students should consider taking AP classes in subjects that most interest them rather than taking an excessive course load that leaves little time for real engagement with the subject .

In order to meet both the expectations of the College Board and be in keeping with the SMCHS academic mission and philosophy, all AP courses are subject to the following policies:

a . All AP courses will have prerequisite/guideline grade requirements to be determined by the department in which the course is taught.

b. AP course grades will be based on mastery of course content and completion of assignments, not a student’s performance on the AP exam in May .

c.  Students enrolled in AP courses will have weighted internal GPAs; the GPA on official school transcripts is unweighted (see Student-Parent Hand- book for weighted grading scale) .

d. Students enrolled in AP courses must take the AP exam in May. Failure to take the exam will result in a note to that effect on a student’s transcript; grade penalties in the class are at the discretion of the teacher.  Students will also lose the AP “weight” on their internal GPAs .

e. All AP courses are required to have a final examination in the fall and a  final assessment in the spring semester. Course content will be taught through the end of the semester, regardless of the date of the AP exam.

f. Families will be billed directly for the AP exam(s) fees (about $95 each) along with tuition to facilitate payment over several months. Fee reductions are available to those who qualify (see the business office for details).

Consistent with its mission as a Lasallian college preparatory school, Saint Mary’s offers a number of Advanced Placement courses to its students . An established, nationally recognized program, Advanced Placement courses are available  to students who are willing to undertake more complex, challenging course work . The foundation for the skills and knowledge a student must master to succeed in an Advanced Placement course is laid in the college-prep program beginning in the Saint Mary’s student’s freshman year and built upon in each succeeding year . In general, superior performance in appropriate college-preparatory courses suggests readiness for Advanced Placement work. While Advanced Placement courses often emphasize a broad range of topics to study, Saint Mary’s Advanced Placement teachers may emphasize additional topics and skills students need to succeed at the college level .

The Expectations and Challenges of Advanced Placement for Saint Mary’s Students

Saint Mary’s is committed to the education of the whole person, and the school works with students and parents to balance students’ academic, spiritual, and co-curricular demands so that they can ably manage the challenges of high-school life . All students who meet the graduation requirements of Saint Mary’s are prepared for college coursework. AP courses are very rigorous, and they accelerate students’ preparation for college . Each AP course poses its own distinct challenges, and as a result departments have identified specific prerequisite and guidelines to assist faculty, administrators, students, and parents in determining whether a student is prepared for the challenges of an AP course . These prerequisites and guidelines may include minimum grade point averages, course prerequisites, placement examinations, portfolios of student work, and instructor approvals .

While Saint Mary’s encourages students to challenge themselves academically, we also counsel prudence in course selection so that academic challenges are beneficial and not detrimental to student development .

Once admitted to an AP course, a Saint Mary’s student must be committed to completing the course and any preparatory summer work.  Students will not be dropped from an AP course roster without the approval of the Administration . Saint Mary’s requires that students enrolled in an AP course will take the culminating AP exams. In cases when the school is concerned a student is overextending himself/ or herself by taking an AP course, parents and students may be asked to agree in writing that the student and parents understand the challenges of AP coursework and that the student will complete the course.

Interpretation of Individual and School-Wide AP Exam Performance

In addition to achieving the Saint Mary’s learning outcomes, a key goal for Advanced Placement students is performing successfully on the Advanced Placement exams. Saint Mary’s recognizes that students who successfully complete AP courses and the subsequent AP exams may derive a benefit in gaining admission to the colleges and universities of their choice. While Saint Mary’s is proud of the success of its students on AP exams, “pass rates” alone do not indicate instructional excellence.  More significant is the high number of Saint Mary’s students willing and able to take on the educational challenge of AP courses.

The Effect of AP Courses on Grade-Point Averages

Saint Mary’s students’ grade-point averages, as published on student transcripts, are unweighted. Students’ grades in Advanced Placement & Honors courses at Saint Mary’s do carry an additional grade point value, which is used internally for academic honors and recognition and is not published.  It is important to note that colleges and universities determine for themselves how much added value an AP course should carry during their admissions process.