Advanced Placement

The Advanced Placement program began in the post World War 2 era, and was founded to bridge the gap between secondary and higher education. After a student by elite preparatory schools and ivy league universities, the program piloted in 1952 with eleven courses. By 1955, the program was underway. The mission of the Advanced Placement Program is to help prepare students for college level study, by providing secondary students with rigorous, demanding, college-level instruction. AP provides curriculum and assessments in thirty-nine courses to 2 million students worldwide.

The College Board, overseer of both the AP program and the SATs, is a nonprofit organization of 6,000 colleges and universities. It is governed by a board of trustees with twelve elected members, all-volunteer.

Some key benefits of the AP Program:

• Prepares students for college level study

• Allows students to experience more success in college

• Can help students save time and money in college by providing college credit

• Helps students explore their passions more deeply

• Aids in the college admissions process

• The exams have a high failure rate (students may be overextending themselves)

• Perpetuates the achievement gap and racial disparity in education and college preparation

• Students in higher-income communities have access to better resources than students in lower-income communities

• AP does offer financial assistance and fee waivers for the exam

• College credit is not guaranteed

• Some claim that the AP tests require too much curriculum in too little time

• AP courses are currently being revised to focus more on critical thinking and analysis

• Creation of the AP Capstone program (Wakefield High School does not currently offer the AP Capstone program)

Difference between AP and Honors Level:

• AP is more rigorous and demanding

• AP curriculum is standardized worldwide

• AP gives you the opportunity to take the standardized AP Exam

• Honors level does not provide college credit

Each college makes its own decisions about what type of credit it will grant for a score. It depends on the college, your score, and the degree program you are entering. Potentially, if you earn college credit, you could save a great deal of time and money.

This link at the College Board website has lots of great information for parents & guardians.