What is Advanced Placement (AP)?
Advanced Placement, a program administered by the College Board , is nationally recognized as the gold standard of rigorous high school curriculum. All AP courses are rigorous, college-level courses developed by content-area experts. Students take an end-of-the year examination and depending on their scores can potentially earn college credit.
Why AP?
According to research done by Clifford Adelman at the U.S. Department of Education, “the rigor of a student’s high school curriculum is the single best predictor of success in college. “ Challenging AP curriculum will not only ensure that students are prepared for college, but AP courses also give students an opportunity to earn college credit while still in high school. In Arkansas, AP exams are free to students who are enrolled in the course and passing at the time of the exam, so any potential college credit is free to students. In addition, AP courses help students to demonstrate rigor on their transcript when applying for college.
AP Specifically at MHHS
Students in grades 8-12 may sign up for advanced placement courses. These courses prepare students for college level instruction or may include college credit for completion. Students are provided an academically rigorous curriculum which is differentiated in content, process, and product. The teachers are certified in Advanced Learning Instruction. Approximately 70% of MHHS students enrolled in AP courses since 1990 have earned some kind of advanced placement or college credit. Currently, we have 14 AP courses at MHHS with a few of these being English Literature & Composition, Calculus, Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Science.