What is Advanced Placement (AP)?

The most rigorous high school courses available

Enables motivated students to pursue college-level studies while

still in high school.

There are 38 AP possible courses; Centennial currently offers 15

and has offered additional courses in previous years

Each course culminates in a college-level assessment (AP Exam)

in May. A passing exam equates to 101-level college credit.

Centennial leads PUSD in number of AP tests taken.

Which Courses Do We Offer?English and

Interdisciplinary

History and Social

Sciences

Math and Computer

Science

Science

Seminar Human Geography Calculus AB Biology

Language and

Composition

United States

History

Calculus BC Chemistry

Literature and

Composition

Statistics Environmental

Science

Research Computer Science A Physics 1

Computer Science

Principles

Which Courses Could We Add?Arts History and Social

Sciences

World Languages Science

2-D Art and Design European History French Physics 2

3-D Art and Design United States

Government and

Politics

Spanish Physics C Courses

Art History Macroeconomics

Drawing Microeconomics

Music Theory Psychology

Centennial’s AP Capstone PROGRAM

This is a diploma program that is

recognized around the country.

AP Seminar

(10th grade)

AP Research

(12th grade)

4 AP courses

You choose

Opportunity for College Credit at a fraction of the cost.

Save money and time. Examples:

AP Lang (APLAC) – ENG 101

AP Lit – Humanities Credit or ENG 101

AP Calc I - Calc I

RISK: Credit is contingent on earning a “passing” scores on the AP

test. Credit is university specific. Generally a 3 is “passing”.

Ex: AP Calc I: ASU, U of A, NAU, GCU = 3, USC = 4, Harvard = 5

Centennial High School

Short Term Benefits of AP

AP classes will provide a level of rigor that will help our Coyotes on

the ACT.

ACT is the most important test our Coyotes will take their entire

high school career.

Colleges prefer students who take an AP test over those that do

not (e.g. UCLA).

AP test is more reliable than a grade.

AP Capstone Diploma

Centennial High School

Medium Term Benefits of AP

Centennial High School

ACT and GPA are synergistic

How can we increase a students’ chance of

staying in college?

How can we minimize the financial burdens of

student loans, course failures, retakes, etc.?

AP Students Persevere and Earn Degrees

Centennial High School

Long Term Benefits of AP

AP courses and exams engage students in

College-level critical thinking

Scholarly writing

Self-discipline and perseverance

Time management

Centennial High School

Long Term Benefits of AP

RISK – potentially lower GPA

Parents on Social Media

NAU Lumberjack Scholarship – Covers Full Tuition

“No grade lower than a B” – 1 make up (3.5 Core GPA)

Keep Scholarship = maintain a 3.0

Study of 122,000 Transcripts – Average student GPA declined by

.47 (half a letter grade) from HS to college (NACAC).

Students who took one or more AP Exams, regardless of score

were more likely to graduate in 4 years (Mattern, Marini, &

Shaw; 2013).

Centennial High School

Long Term Benefits of AP

Variety of AP Strategies:

Take Courses that Align with Interests or Anticipated Major

Take Tests that Align with Interests or Anticipated Major

Mix Honors and AP Classes

Pursue dual enrollment credit instead of AP

Which AP Classes Should I Take?

Learn About Your Options

Visit with our AP Teachers

Check out the AP Website

Know Centennial Course Registration Dates

Know AP Test Registration Timelines and Costs

Call Us If You Need Help or Have Questions: Mrs. Kate Hoffner

What’s Next?

www.tinyurl.com/YxPfWaQp

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