Most students start Advanced Placement classes sophomore year with World History and continue throughout high school with advanced history classes and language as well as math and science. The question facing students when determining whether or not to take an AP class is what they will gain from the class. The classes themselves can be daunting because of the workload and skill required but they can also provide many benefits besides gaining knowledge.
Students have the opportunity to take the AP exam at the end of the year to receive college credit and check their understanding of the topic. If they receive a score of four or five out of five, the class will be considered a college course, although some colleges will even accept a score of three.
“Kids in AP classes are required to up their level of thinking and participation and also their ability to extend their studies into a higher level curriculum in preparation for their AP exam,” said Saroj Jagernauth, an OHS counselor.
According to data collected from last years students, there were 595 students in an AP class, 190 students took at least one exam and 82 scored a four or higher on one exam or more. This means that approximately 32 percent of students enrolled in an AP class took the exam at the end of the year and 43 percent that took the exam got a four or higher.
There are also some students who were recognized for doing well on more than one exam. 29 students were AP scholars meaning they scored a three or higher on three or more exams and 11 were AP scholars with honors meaning they averages a 3.25 or higher on four AP exams.
“I think it would be a phenomenal idea that every student takes the exam,” Jagernauth said. “It’s a good measure of their ability to handle college material because AP classes on any campus are the closest to the rigor and athletic expectation of a college course.”
Even if students don’t want to take the exam, they can still receive the benefits of the class.
“I’m in an AP class because I like to challenge myself and prepare myself for the future,” said sophomore Allie Brown.
The classes are known to be more rigorous and necessary to maintaining a higher ranking. AP classes are guided by the College Board meaning that students are expected to learn and test the same way college students do.
“I would say they emulate college way more than normal high school classes do, simply because the workload is just the way college is,” said Dominic Valente, former OHS student and current college sophomore.
In addition to the college preparation, it is beneficial for students to be surrounded by other hardworking people.
“I think the environment was the best part about being in an AP class,” Valente said. “Usually people that take AP classes are a little bit above average and are a little bit more serious about their careers.”
However, it often seems like the easier route with the same benefits would be an Honors or Dual enrollment class. Honors classes provide the higher GPA but no college credit and Dual Enrollment provides college credit, but is considered a regular class. Also, it costs money to take Dual Enrollment and students in AP only pay for the test, although Dual Enrollment is guaranteed college credit and AP is not.
“A dual enrollment class is really a good program for kids who want to stay in state,” said Dean Kirkpatrick, assistant principal. “It’s a great way to get your credits out of the way. You’re working with teachers who know you, who are willing to work with you a lot more. You’re not in a class of 120. AP is much broader. If you want to go across the country, if you want to go to a school that you’re not really sure is going to accept one of our in state credits, it’s much better to go that route.”
Some classes are offered only as Dual Enrollment and not as AP but are still beneficial.
“The dual enrollment senior English class will give you credit for 101 and 102,” Valente said. “If I could go back I definitely would have taken that”
Although it may seem like AP is the obvious choice, Honors and Dual classes are also excellent options.
“[The choice] comes down to a student’s desire to grow and learn and challenge themselves,” Jagernauth said.