AP & Honors
Parent and Student Night
North Cobb High School
What is Honors?
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Honors courses are taught at a faster pace and cover
more material in greater depth than regular level classes.
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Honors courses, except for most 9th grade courses,
carry an extra .5 quality point. (not for HOPE core)
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Honors level courses best prepare students for
Advanced Placement Courses as well as the rigor
of college courses
What is the Advanced
Placement Program?
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AP provides students with the opportunity to try
college work while in high school.
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AP gives students the opportunity to learn valuable
skills and study habits
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AP is designed by college professors and secondary
school teachers. College professors also help score
exams to verify mastery of college material in AP
courses
Benefits of AP
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Subjects are studied in greater depth
Students will discover areas of strength and
weakness
Students will be preparing for the rigor of
college work
Students will build good study habits
Students will improve writing skills
Students will gain the realization that they can
excel as they face their challenges
Don’t forget these benefits…
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Gives you an edge on your college application
Saves you money on college tuition
Helps you develop your potential in the
classroom
Helps shape clearer goals for your future
Students more likely to graduate from college on
time
What is Different?
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Honors and AP classes are more demanding
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AP classes are similar to first year college
courses
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Students are asked to read and write more
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Students must learn to evaluate and critically
analyze material
This means:
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Discussions are intense, probing and demanding
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Students are required to think for themselves, not give
answers to please the teacher
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Homework involves thinking for yourself, expressing
your ideas and analyzing what you read.
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The classes teach you to analyze, reason and understand
Who Should take AP Classes?
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All students who are willing to accept the
challenge of a rigorous academic curriculum
AP Potential
Students should take into consideration their
-interests
-motivation
-strengths and weaknesses
AP Courses offered at North Cobb
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AP English Literature
AP English Language
AP Statistics
AP Calculus AB/BC
AP Biology
AP Chemistry
AP Physics
AP Environmental Science
AP World History
AP U.S. History
AP European History
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AP U.S. Government & Politics
AP Comparative Government &
Politics
AP Microeconomics
AP Macroeconomics
AP Psychology
AP Human Geography
AP French Language
AP Spanish Language
AP German Language
AP Studio Art
AP Music Theory
AP at North Cobb
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AP Certified School
All AP teachers receive special training
NCHS is an AP Access and Support School
with at least 30% of test takers identified as
African American or Hispanic and over 50%
percent scoring 3 or higher
Received a grant from the State to train
additional teachers
The AP Exam
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Administered on a nationally established schedule
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May 4th –May 15th
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Typically three hour exams that include a multiple
choice section and either essays or problems
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Measures reasoning skills and the ability to analyze facts
and data, synthesize information, think critically about
complex issues and negotiate competing perspectives
Grading Scale for AP Exams
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Each exam is graded using a 5 point scale
5 – Extremely qualified
 4 – Well qualified
 3 – Qualified
 2 – Possibly qualified
 1 – Not qualified
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An AP grade of 3 or higher can qualify you for
college credit or placement at most U.S. colleges
and universities
What’s the Difference?
Credit or Placement
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Credit
 Earn points/credits
toward college degree
requirements
Placement
 Skip introductory courses
 Enter a higher level
course
 Fulfill general education
requirements
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Can be offered both
placement and credit
by many colleges
Allows you to move
into upper level
courses sooner,
pursue a double
major, gain time to
study and time to
travel abroad
What counts?
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Check directly with the college
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Check the College Board website
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www.collegeboard.com/ap/creditpolicy
Type in the name of the institution or browse by
letter of alphabet
How much do AP Exams cost?
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The state of Georgia pays for the first test for
each student in a given year
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All other tests in a given year are $86 each
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There is an $20 administration fee per student
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Students who are eligible for free or reduced
lunch receive qualify for a fee reduction
Rigor vs. Final GPA
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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
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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
isn’t ready for AP?
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The emphasis should be on the highest level of
instruction at which the student is capable of
performing rather than the grade the student might
receive.
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College registrars say they do recognize the difference
between the honors and regular level courses.
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Consider the AVID program
A.V.I.D.
(Advancement Via Individual Determination)
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Enables first time honors/AP students to take
risks by enrolling in rigorous courses
Provides a support course designed for student
needs
Builds confidence for success and provides skills
necessary for rigorous coursework
Provides instruction, coaching and resources for
success
Academic Booster Club
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Please join!
The purpose of the ABC is to establish an
environment of academic excellence for
students
Recognize students for academic achievement
and improvement
Contact Judy Kelly in room 459
Governor’s Honors
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GHP is a six-week summer
instructional program
designed to provide
intellectually gifted and
artistically talented high
school students challenging
and enriching educational
opportunities.
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Curriculum Areas:
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Students in 10th and 11th
grade are nominated by
teachers and begin with an
interview process at the
school level
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Communicative Arts
Math
Science
Social Studies
Foreign Language
Visual Arts, Music,
Theater, Dance
Design, Technology and
Executive Management
So What’s Next…
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For us:
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Recognition of students
for taking the more
rigorous coursework
Provide support and
guidance to AP students
Summer AP Boot Camp
Parent communication to
keep you up to date on
everything from testing to
registration
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For you:
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Be supportive parents
Shift the focus from the
grade to the learning
When you check grades
remember that:
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There are typically fewer
“grades” in an AP/Honors
course
The grades may not
initially be the same as they
have “always been”
Current AP Students
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AP Student Panel
Thank You!