Everything Parents Need to Know about Advanced Placement Courses

 In over 10,000 schools across the country, students are taking Advanced Placement Program® (AP®) classes. AP courses allow your child to take college-level courses while still in high school, and if your child passes the AP Exam, he or she actually receives college credits… which can be a great way for them to save time and money in college. If you haven’t heard about these classes, talk to your child’s school counselor.

AP courses require dedication — they are time consuming and challenging, and are designed to meet high academic standards. The College Board recommends to schools that any student who is academically prepared and willing to take on the challenge of AP be considered for admission to an AP course.

The College Board has created more than 30 AP courses and exams, but it is up to the individual high schools throughout the country to choose the courses they wish to offer. Knowing early what prerequisites are needed for particular AP courses enables students to better plan their high school academics and not miss out on this opportunity.

In the Dallas Independent School District (ISD), students can enroll either with a teacher recommendation, or if a parent or student expresses interest. Sylvia López, the director of counseling services for Dallas ISD, says her district has year-round on-site activities to tell parents about AP classes and how to prepare for college. But not all school districts reach out to parents in the same ways.

Eva Bazán, a mother of three from Michoacán, México, who lives in Queen Creek, Ariz., enrolled her daughter after she received a letter from her school saying that Iris, a senior, should enroll in advanced courses.

The biggest consideration for Bazán was the time commitment her daughter would have to make to the demanding course work. “Iris is very involved in sports and even works a part-time job. Taking these classes meant more schoolwork and studying. Now she’s used to it. I really think it has made her more responsible.”

Students also benefit in other ways. AP courses are designed to build students’ skills by having them engage in intense conversation, solve problems collaboratively, and learn to write clearly and persuasively. They also open doors to college opportunity.

Studies show that students who are successful on AP Exams are more likely to graduate from college within four years. Coupled with the advanced placement or credit awarded to students who earn a 3 or higher on the 5-point AP Exam scale, families can potentially save thousands of dollars in tuition. Also, nearly a third of universities look at a student’s AP participation when deciding who will receive scholarships.
Along with math, English and other subjects, many students take AP Spanish — one of the most popular language courses, especially among Latinos. As College Board Advanced Placement Program Vice President Trevor Packer explains, “AP Spanish courses show students they can succeed at this level and generate the self-confidence to explore other courses.”

Parents should soon make an appointment with their child’s counselor to find out about the enrollment process because spring is usually when students choose courses for the coming fall. Even if AP courses aren’t an option, parents still need to understand what courses and exams students need to graduate on time and be ready for college.

According to López, “AP courses prepare our students for the real world. Those work and study habits are what they’ll need for the future, college or technical school.”

For more information on AP courses, visit www.collegeboard.com/enespanol or call 888-225-5427. To find out which schools offer AP courses, visit www.collegeboard.com/apescuelas

This post is also available in: Spanish