What parents should do?
Did you know that as a parent you are the Chief Education Officer
(CEO) of your child’s education? In that capacity, you are responsible for ensuring
that your child receives the best educational opportunities possible and that your
child meets high expectations in the classroom. As the CEO you should:
- Write a vision and educational blueprint for your child that includes high expectations.
- Share that vision or mission statement with your child and his or her teachers.
- Identify and develop your child’s talent.
- Make sure your child participates in social activities that have positive outcomes.
- Model and require good manners and behavior.
- Create and instill in your child a legacy of values that will be passed down to
future generations.
Why AP courses are important?
- 61 percent of students who take two or more AP exams in high school will graduate
from college in four or fewer years.
- Students who participate in AP often do better on standardized tests like the ACT
and SAT. Good test scores win scholarships.
- Colleges and universities often give increased admission and scholarship consideration
to applicants who have AP courses on their high school transcripts.
The facts about AP
Myth 1: AP courses are only
for the “smartest” students.
Fact 1: Many students who are
not enrolled in AP courses are capable of succeeding in these classes. Parents must
often advocate to ensure children are placed in these courses and then find support
resources (e.g. tutors) to assist as needed.
Myth 2: Students should not
take AP courses because these types of classes can negatively affect the grade point
average (GPA).
Fact 2: In many counties AP
courses are weighted. This means that a “C” in an AP course counts as a “B” when
determining a student’s GPA.
Myth 3: Counselors and students
are the only individuals involved in the course selection process.
Fact 3: Parents must be involved
in the education of their children. This includes selecting courses; setting expectations;
and establishing goals before, during, and after high school.
How does my child sign up for AP courses?
Students register for these classes as part of the course selection process. Each
spring the school will send home registration information for the classes your child
will take the next year. This is the time to register for AP classes. Starting next
year, the State Board of Education will require that all high schools offer at least
one AP class in core subjects (math, English, social studies and science). Students
will take AP as part of their normal school day, and their final grade is determined
by an exam offered at the end of the course.
In many counties, AP grades are weighted. That means that if a student receives
a “C” in an AP course, the grade will appear as a “B” on the report card. This is
because of the level of rigor of each AP course.
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