1. Honors/AP Night John Marshall High School May 7, 2015

2. Denise Cobb Gifted Services Specialist Math Teacher decobb@rochester.k12.mn.us (507)328-5278

3. Meeting Purpose To distinguish between honors option, honors, AP, CIS, and PSEO classes To distinguish between honors option, honors, AP, CIS, and PSEO classes To explain the benefits of taking these courses To explain the benefits of taking these courses To clarify the expectations of students taking these courses To clarify the expectations of students taking these courses

4. Gifted Services Philosophy Schools need to offer opportunities which challenge all students Schools need to offer opportunities which challenge all students All students should be encouraged to take the most rigorous courses they are capable of taking All students should be encouraged to take the most rigorous courses they are capable of taking

5. Honors Classes Honors Option Honors Option Honors Honors College in the Schools (CIS)* College in the Schools (CIS)* Advanced Placement(AP) Advanced Placement(AP) Post-secondary Enrollment Option (PSEO)* Post-secondary Enrollment Option (PSEO)* *Not all classes are honors

6. Honors Option Classes Offered in areas where no honors equivalent is available Offered in areas where no honors equivalent is available Student completes a contract which states that he or she agrees to complete different and more challenging coursework than other students Student completes a contract which states that he or she agrees to complete different and more challenging coursework than other students Examples include speech, reading, and health careers Examples include speech, reading, and health careers

7. Honors Classes Open to all students meeting prerequisites Open to all students meeting prerequisites More in-depth and challenging course work More in-depth and challenging course work All students earning an A or a B in the class earn honors credit All students earning an A or a B in the class earn honors credit Examples include honors biology, honors geometry, and honors English Examples include honors biology, honors geometry, and honors English

8. College in the Schools (CIS) Also called “concurrent enrollment” Also called “concurrent enrollment” Students may earn both high school and college credit Students may earn both high school and college credit Courses are taught by high school teachers at the high school (a college professor serves as an advisor) Courses are taught by high school teachers at the high school (a college professor serves as an advisor)

9. CIS (continued) There is no cost to the student There is no cost to the student Credit is awarded on overall academic performance in the class, not a single test Credit is awarded on overall academic performance in the class, not a single test Acceptance and transfer of credits varies by college Acceptance and transfer of credits varies by college Be sure to ask admissions about their policy Be sure to ask admissions about their policy

10. CIS (continued) Examples at John Marshall this year include:  Reading and Writing Critically*  Latin IV  Fundamentals of Public Speaking*  Multivariable calculus *Not considered honors

11. CIS (continued) This program is currently undergoing changes due to circumstances beyond our control. We hope to be able to offer a greater variety of CIS classes soon.

12. Advanced Placement (AP) Classes Honors classes typically taken by juniors and seniors (and sophomores in American Studies) Honors classes typically taken by juniors and seniors (and sophomores in American Studies) Teachers generally have special training Teachers generally have special training Follow national curricular guidelines Follow national curricular guidelines Students may take a test which could earn them college credit Students may take a test which could earn them college credit Examples include statistics, economics, American History, and literature Examples include statistics, economics, American History, and literature

13. AP (continued) Courses are taught by high school teachers at the high school Courses are taught by high school teachers at the high school There is no cost to take the class There is no cost to take the class There is a fee to take the exam There is a fee to take the exam College credit is almost always awarded to students who do sufficiently well on the exam College credit is almost always awarded to students who do sufficiently well on the exam

14. AP American History (American Studies) Unique because it is offered at the sophomore level Unique because it is offered at the sophomore level Substantial jump in workload, critical reading and writing, and expectations from 9 th grade Substantial jump in workload, critical reading and writing, and expectations from 9 th grade Minimum of 7 hours of homework per week just for history portion of the class Minimum of 7 hours of homework per week just for history portion of the class Extremely rigorous and demanding class for some sophomores Extremely rigorous and demanding class for some sophomores

15. Why take an AP class? Challenge yourself Challenge yourself Colleges look for rigor in a student’s high school coursework Colleges look for rigor in a student’s high school coursework AP is nationally recognized AP is nationally recognized You may earn scholarships You may earn scholarships

16. Why take the AP exam? Challenge yourself Challenge yourself See how much you have learned compared to other students nationwide See how much you have learned compared to other students nationwide The test is a learning experience in itself The test is a learning experience in itself You may earn college credit You may earn college credit You may earn scholarships You may earn scholarships

17. How are tests scored? Tests are scored on a scale from 1- 5, with 5 being the best. Tests are scored on a scale from 1- 5, with 5 being the best. 3 is generally considered a passing score 3 is generally considered a passing score Many colleges accept 3’s, most accept 4’s, a few only accept 5’s Many colleges accept 3’s, most accept 4’s, a few only accept 5’s Some grant credit, some advanced standing Some grant credit, some advanced standing Some grant more credit for higher scores Some grant more credit for higher scores

18. How will I do in successive courses in college? Students who score 4’s and 5’s are generally VERY successful in subsequent classes. Students who score 4’s and 5’s are generally VERY successful in subsequent classes. Even students who score 3’s generally outperform students who took the corresponding class in college and have a grade point average of 3.0+ in those classes. Even students who score 3’s generally outperform students who took the corresponding class in college and have a grade point average of 3.0+ in those classes.

19. How many tests should I take? I generally suggest that students take tests for all of the AP courses they enroll in. I generally suggest that students take tests for all of the AP courses they enroll in. College credit is expensive, and the small cost of a test is worth the potential reward of college credit. College credit is expensive, and the small cost of a test is worth the potential reward of college credit. But… more so than SAT/ACT tests, these tests are worth studying for! Unfortunately, you must take them all during a 2 week period in May. So if you are signed up for a large number of AP courses, this might be a consideration.

20. Will I graduate from college early? You might. At least you will be more likely to graduate on time than students without any AP credits. You might. At least you will be more likely to graduate on time than students without any AP credits. It is more likely, however, that you will simply have more flexibility to double major, study abroad, do an internship, or take additional classes that interest you! It is more likely, however, that you will simply have more flexibility to double major, study abroad, do an internship, or take additional classes that interest you!

21. Will my grades suffer? AP classes are college level classes. They will have a corresponding workload and rigor. The teachers will address this in the panel discussion. Your grades could be lower than they would have been otherwise… but you will also be better prepared!

22. PSEO Post-Secondary Enrollment Option Open to juniors and seniors with qualifying grades Open to juniors and seniors with qualifying grades They may take classes at a Minnesota college (full-time or part-time) They may take classes at a Minnesota college (full-time or part-time) There is no cost to the student There is no cost to the student Normal transfer policies apply Normal transfer policies apply

23. PSEO (cont) Students may miss out on aspects of high school life Students may miss out on aspects of high school life Success requires maturity Success requires maturity It takes careful planning to successfully meet all high school credits It takes careful planning to successfully meet all high school credits It may be difficult to earn an honors diploma if that is important to the student It may be difficult to earn an honors diploma if that is important to the student

24. GPA / Weighted Grading Honors classes are more challenging and they are more work! Honors classes are more challenging and they are more work! We recognize this in our weighted grading system. We recognize this in our weighted grading system. A’s, B’s, and C’s earned in honors classes raise a student’s weighted GPA. Only A’s and B’s count toward an honors diploma. A’s, B’s, and C’s earned in honors classes raise a student’s weighted GPA. Only A’s and B’s count toward an honors diploma.

25. Earning an Honors Diploma A student must earn A’s or B’s in 24 one semester honors classes. A student must earn A’s or B’s in 24 one semester honors classes. This is the equivalent of 12 credits. (24 are required to graduate.) This is the equivalent of 12 credits. (24 are required to graduate.) A student would need to average about 3 honors classes each semester. A student would need to average about 3 honors classes each semester.

26. Getting into College Colleges look at more than just grades. Colleges look at more than just grades. They look for rigorous coursework. They look for rigorous coursework. They look for students who are growing and improving academically. They look for students who are growing and improving academically. They look for students who are active in their school and the community. They look for students who are active in their school and the community.

27. Questions? Ask our panel: Heather Lyke - English Valerie Wassmer – social studies Theresa Felmlee - science Linda McGouirk – world languages Nora Rogers - English