Each year, students around the world who want to
learn and achieve at the highest level become AP®
students. Through AP’s college-level courses and
exams, students can:
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earn college credit and advanced placement
stand out in the college admissions process
better prepare themselves for the expectations of
college reading, reading, and thinking.
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19 AP courses at Tahoma Senior High
AP Human Geography was added this year at TJH
Students explore their interests with other students who
share their desire to learn.
Courses developed by leading professors to reflect the
level of learning in 100-level courses in colleges throughout
the country.
Students study fascinating topics and ideas that may
become the foundation of their future college major or
career.
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All schools wishing to label a course “AP” must
submit an approved subject-specific AP Course
Audit form and course syllabus for each teacher of
that AP course.
The AP® Course Audit was created at the request of
secondary school and college faculty to:
 Provide AP teachers and administrators with
clear curricular and resource guidelines and
requirements
 Give colleges and universities confidence that AP
courses are designed to meet the same clearly
articulated college-level criteria across high
schools.
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AP is more than just a class--it’s a community of students
and educators who are passionate, curious, and committed
to academic excellence.
Students engage in intense discussions, solve problems
collaboratively, and learn to write clearly and persuasively.
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AP courses are hard work. But, it’s work that
pays off.
AP courses help
 improve writing skills
 sharpen problem-solving abilities
 develop better study habits
Each AP course concludes with a
standardized exam in May
 Exam is written and scored by
college professors and AP teachers
 Score shows how well students have
mastered college-level course work
and how they compare with other
college-bound AP students around
the world.
 Exam costs $87, and some financial
aid is available.
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More than 90 percent of four-year
colleges in the United States and
colleges in more than 60 other
countries give students credit,
advanced placement or both on the
basis of AP Exam grades.
By entering college with AP credits,
students will have the time to move
into upper-level courses in their field
of interest, pursue a double major or
study abroad. Go to
www.collegeboard.com/ap/creditpol
icy to find out more about the AP
college policies.
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An AP exam score of 3-5 can translate
into 5-15 college credits, worth $600$3000 in saved tuition (based on UW
tuition). Books are also included, which
is a HUGE savings.
Research shows that AP students are
more likely to graduate from college in
four years, which only 27 percent of
students at U.S. public colleges achieve.
The average price of college at a public
university such as UW costs about
$24,000 for each additional year.
All motivated and academically
prepared students deserve the
opportunity to participate in the
AP Program. Ultimately, it is a
choice students must make for
themselves.
 AP courses can help students
develop the time management
skills and discipline they’ll need
to be successful in college.
 Choosing AP can help set
students apart, give them a
head start on their future and
change the way they see
themselves and the world.
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AP BIOLOGY
AP CALCULUS AB
AP CALCULUS BC
AP COMPUTER SCIENCE A
AP ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
AP ENGLISH LITERATURE AND COMPOSITION
AP EUROPEAN HISTORY
AP GOVERNMENT
AP GOVERNMENT WE THE PEOPLE
AP HUMAN GEOGRAPHY (TJH ONLY)
AP PHYSICS B
AP PSYCHOLOGY
AP STATISTICS
AP STUDIO ART: 2-D
AP STUDIO ART: 2-DIGITAL GRAPHIC ART
AP STUDIO ART: 3-D
AP STUDIO ART: DRAWING
AP UNITED STATES HISTORY
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AP Biology course is organized around the
following major themes: science as a process,
evolution, energy transfer, continuity and
change, relation of structure to function,
regulation, interdependence in nature, science,
technology, and society. To succeed in AP
Biology students must be highly motivated to
learn, as required reading, curriculum, and
laboratory activities are concurrent with a 100level university biology course.
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AP Calculus AB is a one-year/one credit class
that introduces the three main concepts of
calculus: limits, differentiation, and integration
and their applications. This course is highly
recommended for those students who plan
science or mathematics-related careers.
Evaluation in this class is based on student
success on assignments, unit evaluations and
use of technology. * Graphing calculator
needed. Optional summer review packet will be
available.
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AP Calculus BC is a one-year/one-credit course. It is an
extension of the A.P. Calculus AB course. It will cover all of
the topics taught in a 2nd & 3rd quarter college calculus
course. This includes but is not limited to: surface area,
curve length, work, techniques of integration, parametric
and polar forms, logistic differential equations, polynomial
approximations, convergence and divergence of a series
and Taylor Series. There will also be a review of the
Calculus AB course. This course is highly recommended
for those students who plan to be in science or
mathematical related careers. Evaluation in this class is
based on student success on assignments, unit evaluations
and use of technology. *Graphing calculator needed.
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AP Computer Science A explores the computer
programming language Java and how programs
actually work. Students will create their own
programs ranging from basic calculators to eventually
simple text-based games. (More advanced students
will be able to create Java Applet games by the end of
the course). Motivated students will be prepared to
take the Advanced Placement A exam at the end of
the year, and may continue on to a second year course
where they will learn more complicated programming
techniques, as well as learn to create more
complicated programs and games.
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AP English Literature and Composition is an indepth approach to studying a variety of literary
genres. College-level literature serves as the
foundation for reading and writing analytically;
critical thinking is emphasized. Junior students
will also complete the Oral History Project and
required components for STEP, and will
participate in the junior art field trip. Senior
students will do additional college preparatory
projects in lieu of junior requirements. Required:
800 pages of summer reading and reading log.
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AP Environmental Science combines the disciplines of
geology, biology, environmental studies, environmental
science, chemistry, and physical geography. The learning
in the course is also connected to history, economics,
politics, and cultural anthropology. Students will be
exposed to the scientific principles, concepts, and
methodologies required to understand the
interrelationships of the natural world, to identify and
analyze environmental problems, and to examine the role
science and technology can play in identifying solutions
for resolving and/or preventing problems. Heavy
emphasis is placed on scientific processes, lab and outdoor
fieldwork and analyzing current events.
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AP Environmental Science (Outdoor
Academy) The Outdoor Academy combines
AP Environmental Science, language arts,
and health & fitness in an integrated model
for sophomore students. The AP
Environmental Science component is
identical to the description above in the
stand-alone classroom model.
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AP European History will develop Advanced
Placement writing skills and provide a
background in both European and American
History from 1450 to present. The curriculum
is designed to cover European History
beginning with the Renaissance and ending
with the Cold War. The course requires some
extensive reading and study beyond other
elective Social Studies classes.
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AP Government focuses upon the
constitutional underpinnings of U.S.
government; political beliefs and behaviors;
political parties, interest groups and mass
media; institutions of national government;
public policy; civil rights and civil liberties. We
the People, a competitive scholastic program,
is not a part of this class.
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AP Government provides a collegiate
atmosphere where students can experience:
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interactive discussions
a mock congress simulation
interactive lectures
various projects
citizenship experiences
unit exams formatted to fit the AP Exam—timed
multiple choice and free response questions—as well
as test taking and FRQ strategies which will be used
throughout one’s college career.
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AP Government We the People focuses upon
the constitutional underpinnings of U.S.
government; political beliefs and behaviors;
political parties, interest groups and mass
media; institutions of national government;
public policy; civil rights and civil liberties. We
the People, a competitive scholastic program, is
a part of this class; students will be responsible
for completing a comprehensive summer
homework assignments that covers all of the
basic concepts discussed in We The People
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Prior experience in AP European History or AP
U.S. History is NOT necessary. The AP
Government exam is based on free-response
questions, not on DBQs, which makes it less
challenging for some students.
AP Government is a good way to experience an
AP course for students who love history or
politics. The course provides students with
practice in analyzing and interpreting data and
other information relevant to U.S. government
and politics.
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AP Human Geography provides a collegiate atmosphere where
students can experience
 Study of how and where humans live on the earth
 Spatial and geographic tools; field studies
 Interactive lectures
 Various projects
 Emphasis on population, migration, culture, ethnicity,
political geography, industry/development, agriculture, and
urban development.
 Unit exams formatted to fit the AP Exam—timed multiple
choice and free response questions—as well as test taking
and FRQ strategies which will be used throughout students’
college careers.
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AP Psychology. is a one-year course of study equivalent to
the first year of psychology in college. This course includes:
biological bases of behavior, sensation, perception,
cognition, states of consciousness, learning, intelligence,
motivation, emotion, developmental psychology,
personality study, social psychology, abnormal psychology,
and its treatment. As a result of taking this class students
should be able to: identify major personalities and areas of
study in the psychology field; be better prepared to study
physical therapy, medicine, nursing, education, law, mental
health, police science, and psychology in college; have
acquired college-level knowledge relating to basic
developmental and physiological psychology; and be better
prepared to take the AP Psychology test.
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AP Physics B is an accelerated two-semester course
covering the topics of Newtonian mechanics, fluid
mechanics, thermal physics, electricity and
magnetism, waves and optics. Additional
supplementary topics will be covered after the AP
exam. Knowledge of algebra and trigonometry is
required for this course. Calculus is not required.
However, the basic ideas of differentiation and
integration will be introduced in connection with a
number of physical concepts. At least 12 studentconducted laboratory investigations will be
completed throughout the course.
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AP Statistics A.P. Statistics is designed to
introduce students to the major concepts and
tools for collecting, analyzing, and drawing
conclusions from data. Students are exposed to
four broad conceptual themes: Exploring Data,
Sampling and Experimentation, Anticipating
Patterns and Statistical Inference. The topics
learned in this course are very helpful to
students wishing to study Business or Social
Sciences courses. *Graphing calculator needed.
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AP Studio Art-2D
AP Studio Art-2D Graphic Design
AP Studio Art-3D
AP Studio Art-Drawing
These four studio courses are recommended for students
wanting a career in the fine arts or art education. Students
choose one in order to develop an art portfolio
representing different areas of media and strength. Art
work will be evaluated through class participation,
discussion, development and critiquing art work as well as
meeting the college board syllabus requirements and
rubric. The portfolio is evaluated at the end of the year by
the College Board.
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AP United States History incorporates both a
factual and interpretive approach to United
States history, as it follows the chronological
development of the United States from
settlement to present. Students will develop
cognitive retention and further analytical
thinking skills in the study of American history.
They will develop the ability to write
comprehensive historical essays using primary
source materials while incorporating knowledge
acquired in class.
For further questions, contact Brooke Dillon,
AP/UW Coordinator; your son’s or daughter’s
counselor; or the teacher of the AP course.