at West Potomac High School

Advanced Placement ProgramAdvanced Placement Program®® (AP (AP®®) ) coursescourses are college-level courses offered in high are college-level courses offered in high school. AP courses reflect what is taught in top school. AP courses reflect what is taught in top introductory college coursesintroductory college courses

At the end of course, students take At the end of course, students take AP ExamsAP Exams—standardized exams that measure how well —standardized exams that measure how well students have mastered college-level course students have mastered college-level course work. work.

Students who do well on AP Exams can earn Students who do well on AP Exams can earn credit and/or placement into advanced courses credit and/or placement into advanced courses in college.in college.

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AP courses can be challenging, AP courses can be challenging, but it’s work that pays off.but it’s work that pays off.AP courses are often the most AP courses are often the most interesting and fulfilling courses a interesting and fulfilling courses a student takes in high school.student takes in high school.AP teachers are among the most AP teachers are among the most prepared, dedicated, and inspiring prepared, dedicated, and inspiring teachers at their schools.teachers at their schools.Students develop confidence, and Students develop confidence, and learn the study habits and time learn the study habits and time management skills essential for management skills essential for success in college.success in college.

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Colleges rank “Grades in Colleges rank “Grades in college prep courses” and college prep courses” and “Strength of curriculum” “Strength of curriculum” as the as the top two factors top two factors in in the admission decision.*the admission decision.*

85% of selective colleges 85% of selective colleges and universities report that and universities report that a student’s AP experience a student’s AP experience favorably impacts favorably impacts admission decisions.**admission decisions.**

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“We look favorably on students who have taken AP courses. The presence of AP courses is a sign that a student has chosen to challenge him/herself.”—Admission Officer

* 2009 State of College Admission, NACAC** Unpublished institutional research, Crux Research Inc. March 2007

More than 3,200 colleges and More than 3,200 colleges and universities offer credit or universities offer credit or advanced placement for advanced placement for qualifying AP Exam scores. qualifying AP Exam scores. This includes more than This includes more than 90 90 percentpercent of four-year U.S. of four-year U.S. colleges and universities.colleges and universities.CreditCredit: Students earn points toward : Students earn points toward their college degreestheir college degreesAdvanced placementAdvanced placement: Students can : Students can skip introductory courses, enter skip introductory courses, enter higher-level classes, and/or fulfillhigher-level classes, and/or fulfillgeneral education requirements.general education requirements.

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““One of the best One of the best standard predictors of standard predictors of academic success at academic success at Harvard is performance Harvard is performance on Advanced Placement on Advanced Placement Examinations.”Examinations.”

——William Fitzsimmons,William Fitzsimmons,Dean of Admissions & Dean of Admissions & Financial Aid, Harvard Financial Aid, Harvard UniversityUniversity

Students who take AP courses and exams Students who take AP courses and exams are much more likely than their peers to are much more likely than their peers to complete a college degree on time.complete a college degree on time.Only Only one in four one in four students who enter college complete a students who enter college complete a bachelor’s degree in four years.*bachelor’s degree in four years.* A recent study** showed that students taking AP courses and A recent study** showed that students taking AP courses and exams were exams were much more likely much more likely to earn a college degree in to earn a college degree in four years. four years.

For example, AP English Literature students had four-For example, AP English Literature students had four-year college graduation rates that were year college graduation rates that were 62% higher 62% higher than than students that had not taken AP English Literature.students that had not taken AP English Literature.

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* IPEDS database, 2008** Linda Hargrove, Donn Godin, and Barbara Dodd, “College Outcomes Comparisons by AP and Non-AP High School Experiences.” The College Board, 2008.

31%31% of colleges and of colleges and universities consider a universities consider a student’s AP experience student’s AP experience when making decisions when making decisions about which students will about which students will receive scholarships.* receive scholarships.*

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“Having the AP Exam score can make the difference when it comes down to awarding precious scholarship dollars.”—Edwina Harris Hamby, former Dean of Admission, Fisk University

* Unpublished institutional research, Crux Research Inc. March 2007

For more information about AP courses and exams visit

www.collegeboard.com/www.collegeboard.com/apstudentsapstudents

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Alex Amico, JuniorAlex Amico, Junior Aileen Fagan, SeniorAileen Fagan, Senior Margaret Grady, SeniorMargaret Grady, Senior Christine Gannon, SeniorChristine Gannon, Senior Dale Lescher, SeniorDale Lescher, Senior Emily Ann Key, SeniorEmily Ann Key, Senior

West Potomac is a PLC School:West Potomac is a PLC School: Working Working collaboratively, teachers can structure collaboratively, teachers can structure common activities, interventions, and common activities, interventions, and instruction based on analysis of assessments.instruction based on analysis of assessments.

Advanced Academics Mentoring Program:Advanced Academics Mentoring Program: Underclassmen students in advanced courses Underclassmen students in advanced courses are invited to be mentored by upperclassmen are invited to be mentored by upperclassmen with experiences in taking similar courses, with experiences in taking similar courses, providing advice on time management and providing advice on time management and study skills.study skills.

Summer AP Boost Camp:Summer AP Boost Camp: Students have the Students have the opportunity to work with AP teachers on opportunity to work with AP teachers on essential skills pertaining to the major content essential skills pertaining to the major content areas, in an effort to start the school year off areas, in an effort to start the school year off on the right foot.on the right foot.

• Break-Out Sessions:Break-Out Sessions: 7:40-7:50:7:40-7:50: Session 1 (World History7:40- Session 1 (World History7:40-

8:00)8:00) Counseling and Course Registration Info- Counseling and Course Registration Info-

Remain in Auditorium to meet with Counselors Remain in Auditorium to meet with Counselors and Administratorsand Administrators

7:55-8:057:55-8:05: Session 2: Session 2 8:10-8:208:10-8:20: Session 3 (World History8:10-: Session 3 (World History8:10-

8:30)8:30) 8:25-8:358:25-8:35: Session 4: Session 4 8:40-8:508:40-8:50: Session 5: Session 5

All registration All registration materials are located materials are located on the WPHS website on the WPHS website through the Student through the Student Services office on-Services office on-site:site:

Further information Further information on Advanced on Advanced Academic Programs Academic Programs can be found on the can be found on the FCPS website:FCPS website:

Alex CaseAlex Case Assistant PrincipalAssistant Principal abcase@fcps.eduabcase@fcps.edu

Allison SatterwhiteAllison Satterwhite Advanced Academics CoordinatorAdvanced Academics Coordinator alsatterwhit@fcps.edualsatterwhit@fcps.edu

See the WPHS website for See the WPHS website for additional faculty/staff contact additional faculty/staff contact information, as well as Advanced information, as well as Advanced Academics informationAcademics information