ADVANCED PLACEMENT

AP classes aren’t just about academic rigor—they’re about giving students meaningful opportunities to stretch their thinking, take academic risks, and experience the kind of intellectual engagement that will serve them well in college and beyond. When students opt into AP coursework, they’re stepping into college-level content with the potential to earn college credit and, just as importantly, to sharpen the habits of mind that fuel success in higher education.

Here’s what makes AP stand out:

1. College-Level Learning

Each AP course is designed to mirror an introductory college class—not just in the material covered, but in the way students are expected to think, analyze, and express their ideas. It’s an early invitation into the world of college academics, and students rise to the challenge in impressive ways.

2. Credit that Counts

Scoring well on an AP exam (typically a 3 or higher, depending on the college) can translate into real credit at many universities. That means students can potentially skip entry-level courses, save on tuition, and explore their academic interests more freely once they arrive on campus.

3. Skills that Stick

AP courses are structured to build the kinds of skills that students will lean on in any academic or professional setting: – Critical thinking and the ability to wrestle with complex ideas – Analytical reasoning that goes beyond memorization – Research and writing that demand clarity, structure, and evidence – Time management—because juggling multiple priorities is part of the learning process too

4. A Signal of Readiness

Choosing an AP class is a choice to step up. Colleges take note of students who challenge themselves with rigorous coursework—it’s a strong signal that a student is intellectually curious and academically ready for what comes next.

5. A Confidence Boost

There’s something powerful about working hard, tackling college-level material, and realizing, “I can do this.” AP classes help students build that confidence and resilience before they ever set foot on a college campus.

6. Weighted GPA

At NBPS, AP courses carry additional weight in GPA calculations. This can elevate a student’s academic profile and strengthen their college application— especially in competitive admissions processes.

In the end, AP isn’t just about the test or the transcript line. It’s about developing thinkers who are ready to contribute meaningfully in college classrooms—and who have the confidence and skill set to do so.

Thousands of Advanced Placement teachers have contributed to the principles articulated here. These principles are not new; they are, rather, a reminder of how AP already works in classrooms nationwide. The following principles are designed to ensure that teachers’ expertise is respected, required course content is understood, and that students are academically challenged and free to make up their own minds.

1.  AP stands for clarity and transparency. Teachers and students deserve clear expectations. The Advanced Placement Program makes public its course frameworks and sample assessments. Confusion about what is permitted in the classroom disrupts teachers and students as they navigate demanding work.

2.  AP is an unflinching encounter with evidence. AP courses enable students to develop as independent thinkers and to draw their own conclusions. Evidence and the scientific method are the starting place for conversations in AP courses.

3.  AP opposes censorship. AP is animated by a deep respect for the intellectual freedom of teachers and students alike. If a school bans required topics from their AP courses, the AP Program removes the AP designation from that course and its inclusion in the AP Course Ledger provided to colleges and universities. For example, the concepts of evolution are at the heart of college biology, and a course that neglects such concepts does not pass muster as AP Biology.

4. AP opposes indoctrination. AP students are expected to analyze different perspectives from their own, and no points on an AP Exam are awarded for agreement with a viewpoint. AP students are not required to feel certain ways about themselves or the course content. AP courses instead develop students’ abilities to assess the credibility of sources, draw conclusions, and make up their own minds.

5. AP courses foster an open-minded approach to the histories and cultures of different peoples. The study of different nationalities, cultures, religions, races, and ethnicities is essential within a variety of academic disciplines. AP courses ground such studies in primary sources so that students can evaluate experiences and evidence for themselves.

6. Every AP student who engages with evidence is listened to and respected. Students are encouraged to evaluate arguments but not one another. AP classrooms respect diversity in backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints. The perspectives and contributions of the full range of AP students are sought and considered. Respectful debate of ideas is cultivated and protected; personal attacks have no place in AP.

7. AP is a choice for parents and students. Parents and students freely choose to enroll in AP courses. Course descriptions are available online for parents and students to inform their choice. Parents do not define which college-level topics are suitable within AP courses; AP course and exam materials are crafted by committees of professors and other expert educators in each field. AP courses and exams are then further validated by the American Council on Education and studies that confirm the use of AP scores for college credits by thousands of colleges and universities nationwide.

Impacts of AP: More Than a Score

(From the College Board Website)

While 2 out of 3 AP students earn some college credit, success in AP is measured by more than exam results. We’ve recently confirmed what AP teachers have long known: students benefit from completing AP courses and exams, regardless of their score.

While credit and advanced placement opportunities are more valuable than ever, this article and the research below demonstrate the additional benefits taking AP courses and exams have.

Research shows students who take AP courses and exams are more likely than their peers to attend college and graduate on time. Even AP Exam scores of 1 or 2 predict better college outcomes than academically similar college students who didn’t take an AP course and exam.

• Students who achieve an AP Exam score of 2 do significantly better in introductory college classes (compared to academically similar students who don’t take that corresponding AP Exam.) This was further confirmed in a 2021 survey of nearly 2,000 college freshmen; more than 90% of respondents who earned an AP Exam score of 2 said they are doing well (or very well) in college courses that cover similar content.
• Students who achieve AP Exam scores of a 1 or 2 often earn a higher score on the subsequent AP Exams they take.