Pioneer High

What are AP classes?

The Advanced Placement Program allows students to participate in a college level course and possibly earn college credit while still in high school. Secondary schools and colleges cooperate in this program to give students the opportunity to show mastery in college-level courses by taking the AP exam in May of each school year.  

What background do I need in order to succeed in an AP class?

No specific background is needed to succeed in an AP class, however there are a few common characteristics:

Student Interest - students are interested in a specific course or courses they are attempting. 

Time Management - students can efficiently manage their time to balance the additional rigor of AP courses and their other obligations. 

Interal Motivation - students are motivated by their own interests instead of external factors to encourage them. 

There are a few AP classes that do have subject level prerequisites, for example the ability to read, write and speak Spanish for AP Spanish and AP Spanish Literature.  Please ask the school counselors or the specific AP class teacher about any specific prerequisites. 

What is the AP/Honors "Grade Bump"?

Because of the additional rigor and workload of AP/Honors courses, all AP/Honors classes are given a GPA "grade bump". On a standard 4 point scale, an A in an AP/Honors class is a 5, a B is a 4 and a C is a 3. There are no grade bump benefits for D or F grades. There are no "grade bumps" for classes that have been designated "advanced". 

How can a student sign up for an AP/Honors class ?

Students sign up for AP/Honors courses during the registration period each spring semester. On occasion, if there is a prerequisite class where a student has not performed acceptably, students may have to get teacher permission to enroll into an AP class. Students who want to take more than two AP/Honors courses, students and parents will have to complete a waiver form that indicates the student is enrolling in more than the recommended number of AP/Honors courses a year. 

How can a student drop an AP/Honors class?

Students have until the end of the school year prior to the start of their AP/Honors class to disenroll in the course. Students cannot opt out of an AP/Honors course once a class has started.  

• Art 2D Design

• Art-Drawing

• Biology

• Calculus AB

• Computer Science

• English Language and Comp

• English Literature and Comp

• Environmental Science

• European History

• Music Theory

• Spanish Language

• Spanish Literature

• US Government

• US History