Jefferson West AP Program
Welcome
Congratulations!!
You are here because your son or daughter has
risen to the challenge of taking an advanced
placement class.
Advanced Placement (AP)
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Largest credit by exam program in the world
Began in 1950’s
Dramatically expanded through 1990’s & 2000’s
as the gold standard of academic excellence
Jeff West has had AP classes since 2006.
In 2009 there were 2,168,185 exams taken across
the nation.
33 Exams were taken at Jefferson West.
The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program (AP)
enables students to pursue college-level
studies while still in high school. Based on
their performance on a rigorous AP
examination, students can earn credit,
advanced placement, or both, for college.
AP Courses are designed by a committee of
leaders in their fields who bring cutting edge
content knowledge and expert teaching
practices to the development of AP courses,
which are reviewed and revised annually. AP
committee members currently teach at dozens
of the nation’s top colleges, universities, and
secondary schools.
What do AP Programs do for High Schools?
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Provide a challenging academic program
for motivated students
Provide a rewarding professional
development opportunity for teachers
Demonstrates a school’s strong
commitment to high academic standards
Enhances a school’s overall academic
reputation
Prepare Now to Succeed in College
A 1999 U.S. Department of
Education study found that the
strongest predictor of college
graduation is something students
do before they ever go to
college:
Participate in rigorous, collegelevel courses in high school—
and AP courses in particular.
Clifford Adelman, Answers in the Tool Box: Academic Intensity,
Attendance Patterns, and Bachelor’s Degree Attainment (1999),
U.S. Department of Education.
AP Program
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38 courses offered in 19 subject areas
JEFF WEST currently offers 7 courses
AP Course Offerings
Art History
Biology
Calculus AB
Calculus BC
Chemistry
Chinese Lang.
and Culture
Computer
Science A
Computer
Science AB
English Lang.
and Comp.
English Lit. and
Comp.
Environmental
Science
European
History
French
Language
French
Literature
German
Language
Government &
Politics: Comp.
Government &
Politics: U.S.
Human
Geography
Italian Lang. and
Culture
Japanese Lang.
and Culture
Latin Language
Latin: Vergil
MacroEconomics
MicroEconomics
Music Theory
Physics B
Physics C:
Electricity &
Magnetism
Physics C:
Mechanics
Psychology
Russian Lang.
and Culture*
Spanish
Language
Spanish
Literature
Statistics
Studio Art:
2D Design
Studio Art:
3D Design
Studio Art:
Drawing
United States
History
World History
AP Program Facts
Over 60% of U.S. high schools
participate
Over 90% of U.S. colleges &
universities have AP policy granting
credit, placement, or both, for qualifying
AP Exam grades
Responsibilities of AP® Students
• A willingness to actively engage with
sophisticated concepts
• A willingness to be judged by rigorous,
college-level standards
• A willingness to complete longer and more
complex nightly assignments
• A willingness to complete the AP
examination in May
Cost of taking an AP Course
There are no fees for an AP course
There is a fee for the exam at the end of the
course if the student chooses to take the exam.
This year the cost will be $86.00 per exam.
Should my child take the exam at the end?
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This is decision that you and your
child need to sit down and discuss.
There are benefits from AP classes
whether or not they take the exam,
however the only way to receive
credit or placement is to take the
exam.
Benefits from AP classes even without taking the
exam at the end include….
• outperforming their peers when
placed into advanced courses
• are more likely to take
advanced courses in their AP
subject areas
• are more likely to choose
challenging majors
• are more likely to graduate
with a double major
• are twice as likely to go into
advanced studies
Factors Influencing Admission
Decisions – 2001
NACAC Bulletin – November 2001
Stand out in the admissions process
“One of the best standard
predictors of academic success
at Harvard is performance on
Advanced Placement
Examinations.”
—William R. Fitzsimmons
Dean of Admissions, Harvard University
“AP Exams affirm the rigor of
a student’s course work.
Though admissions policies
vary, if I were a student, I
wouldn’t assume that the
college of my dreams didn’t
care about AP Exams in the
admissions process.”
—Bruce Walker, Director of Admissions
University of Texas at Austin
AP and College Success
70
61
60
50
40
30
20
45
29
No AP
One AP
Two+ AP
Students who take AP
courses and exams are
much more likely than
their peers to
complete a bachelor’s
degree in four years or
less.
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Source: Camara, Wayne. (2003). College
Persistence, Graduation, and Remediation.
College Board Research Notes (RN-19). New
York, NY: College Board.
If they do take the exam they have the
previous benefits plus. . .
Taking the end-of-course AP Exam sends a
powerful message to colleges and
universities
that you’re ready for them, and can enable
your son or daughter to gain admission,
college credit and placement into advanced
courses.
Credit versus Placement
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Some give credit some give placement
Credit – actually earn college hours toward
your college degree
Placement- allows you to skip introductory
courses, enter higher level classes, and/or
fulfill general education requirements (thus
skipping some classes that you will not
have to take and pay for).
Why Colleges Grant Credit for AP Grades
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College faculty participate in development of
course descriptions and examinations
College faculty set standards for and
participate in AP Reading
AP courses and exams are updated regularly
College comparability studies are conducted
Benefits of participating in AP are supported
by research
AP Examinations
• Administered in May
• Approximately three hours long
• Composed of multiple-choice and
free-response questions
• AP Examination grades range from 1 to 5
• Cost- $86.00 per exam
AP Examination Grades
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5 - Extremely Well Qualified
Statistically equates to high As in the comparable
college course
4 - Well Qualified
Statistically equates to low As and high Bs in the
comparable college course
3 – Qualified
Statistically equates to low Bs and high Cs in the
comparable college course
2 - Possibly Qualified
Statistically equates to low Cs and high Ds in the
comparable college course
1 - No Recommendation
To get credit or placement they will have to score a
3 or higher- so just taking the test does not
guarantee credit or placement.
How do I know if the college my
son or daughter is planning on
attending gives credit or
placement?
For the most up to date information,
check directly with college or
university office of admissions.
Can also go to:
www.collegeboard.com/ap/creditpolicy
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Last year of the 33 exams taken at Jeff West, 19 of them
(57%) scored a 3 or higher.
Is it worth the $86.00?
 College credit hours currently run:
 $245.30 /hr @ KU
$206.20/hr @KSU
 $219.00/hr @ESU
$201.00/hr @ WU
 so a 3 hour course at college will cost
somewhere in the $600.00 – $740.00 rangethis year. Passing the exam @ $86.00 for 3
credit hours is quite a savings.
Please consider all the facts and make a decision that
is best for your family.
But remember, if you start saving now$86.00 won’t be so hard to afford in May.
One last thing to consider: If they are
putting in all the time and work, why not
reap the benefits?
Whichever route you decide to
go….
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Your child is going to benefit.
They are going to need to set aside some
extra time for their AP classes
They will have more outside class work
than they have in a regular h.s. class
They will be pushing themselves to achieve
more than the average student
They will be getting the rigor of a college
course before they go to college while at
the same time having excellent teachers
and resources here to assist them.
TAKING AN AP CLASS IS A WIN
- WIN SITUATION…
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They will be a better student for the
experience.