The Advanced Placement/AP A+ College Ready Program at Hokes Bluff High School

1. Student Desire Parent Support Teacher Expertise The Advanced Placement/APA+ College Ready ProgramatHokes Bluff High School College Readiness

2. What is A+ College Ready? A+ College Ready is a foundation created in Alabama in correlation with a National Initiative to increase student involvement in Advanced Placement/AP courses. National Initiative started in 2008. It’s model was an incentive program originated in Texas, in 2000. State affiliates – Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Kentucky, Massachusetts and Virginia A+ Foundation Funding- National Math and Science Assoc, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Boeing, Exxon, Alabama Power, Regions Bank

3. A+ College Ready Goals • 1.Increase AP enrollment in math, science and English by recruiting AP potential students identified by the Explore, Plan, PSAT, and other test. • 2.Increase the number students earning qualifying scores (3, 4, 5) on College Board’s AP exams in those subjects by: • –Flexible scheduling for optimal success • –Student study sessions and at least 3 Saturday seminars • –AP training for teachers for 5 consecutive summers • –Laying the Foundation training for 6th – 12th teachers annually • –Saturday seminars for teachers • 3.Increase the number of students attending and graduating from college with degrees in math and science.

4. Hokes Bluff High School and A+ College Ready • In 2009, Hokes Bluff High School applied for and received a competitive 3 year grant from the A+ College Ready Foundation. • HBHS agreed to a partnership with A+ to implement proven strategies to increase the number of students taking Advanced Placement courses and to provide resources to enhance the success of our students and teachers.

5. Student Desire Parent Support Teacher Expertise The Advanced Placement/APA+ College Ready ProgramatHokes Bluff High School College Readiness

6. What is Advanced Placement/AP? • Through AP courses, talented and dedicated AP teachers help students develop and apply the skills, abilities and content knowledge they will need later in college. • Each AP course is modeled upon a comparable college course. AP teachers must submit their syllabi for review and approval by college faculty. • AP Courses must meet standards recognized by more than 90 percent of four-year colleges and universities in the United States.

7. What is Advanced Placement/AP? • An AP course is an introductory college level course taught as a high school course. • •The curriculum is rigorous stressing the application of critical thinking, reasoning, and writing. • •Students must take the AP Exam administered nationally in May. The exam fee is paid by the grant for math, science and language courses. • •Students may receive college credit for each qualifying exam score of 3 or better.

8. Benefits of AP CREDIT CONFIDENCE COLLEGE SUCCESS AP helps you develop better study habits, improve your writing skills and sharpen your problem-solving abilities-giving you confidence to tackle the academic challenges that you can expect in college. Entering college with AP credits gives you time to move into upper-level courses in your field of interest, pursue a double major, or study or travel abroad. Research consistently show that students who are successful in AP typically experience greater academic success in college than similar students who do not participate in AP.

9. Sarah Chaney, Class of 2010

10. Taking Rigorous Classes While Being An Athlete Pros Cons Less time for other activities/sleep Added stress Less time spent with family and non-athlete friends Occasional extreme exhaustion • Balance of mental challenge with physical challenge • Teammates make great study partners/encouragers • Improves: • Determination • Perseverance • Self-discipline • Time management skills Sarah Chaney, Class of 2010

11. Kyle bryan, class of 2009 AP is definitely worthwhile. I started JSU with 9 hours and it allowed me to be able to take the advanced level history courses that I needed for my major. It was helpful because I have been able to take 300 and 400 history level courses throughout my college career instead of having to take several in one semester. I am barely a junior and I have only 3 more 300 or 400 level classes before I am finished with my history major and have to begin on my English minor. I’ve been able to do a minor without adding years to my college career because of AP.

12. I took AP Literature. I did not pass the AP exam, but I learned so much from the class. In fact, my first essay in college was a breeze. I made a 100 - the only one in my English 101 class. It was all because of my AP class. All of my essays have been easy because I learned how to write in AP. More than that – I learned how to study and how to think and how to meet challenges. Emily Heflin, Class of 2010

13. Trends in College Admissions

14. Hokes Bluff High School AP Courses • AP Biology – Roseanne Stone • AP Calculus- Amy Lemons • AP Environmental Science- Roseanne Stone • AP Government – Jill Boatwright • AP Language – Marcia Farabee • AP Literature – Marcia Farabee • AP US History – Jill Boatwright • Other AP courses available through ACCESS Distance Learning

15. How to be a successful AP student! • Prepare for AP courses by being actively engaged in PreAP courses or their equivalent. • Develop study skills while tackling the demands of an AP course and all of it’s requirements. • Evaluate you progress by taking the AP exam in May at a cost of $87.00. This score will be what the colleges use to determine if you receive college credit for the AP course you have taken.

16. Student Desire Parent Support Teacher Expertise The Advanced Placement/APA+ College Ready ProgramatHokes Bluff High School College Readiness