The Basics Advanced Placement Program® (AP®) courses are college- level courses offered in high school. AP courses reflect what is taught in top introductory college courses At the end of course, students take AP Exams—standardized exams that measure how well students have mastered college- level course work. Students who do well on AP Exams can earn credit and/or placement into advanced courses in college.

AP Courses Arts: Art History, Music Theory, English: English Language and Composition, English Literature and Composition History and Social Sciences: Macroeconomics, Psychology, United States Government, United States History, World History Mathematics and Computer Science: Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Computer Science, Statistics Sciences: Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Physics 1, Physics 2

What Are AP Courses Like? AP courses typically demand more of students than regular or honors courses. Classes tend to be fast-paced and cover more material than typical high school classes. More time, inside and outside of the classroom, is required to complete lessons, assignments and homework. AP teachers expect their students to think critically, analyze and synthesize facts and data, weigh competing perspectives, and write clearly and persuasively. AP Courses are year-long commitments (with the exception of Government and Macroeconomics, which are only one semester) and will be held to the same scheduling policies as all other FC courses. Discussion topic: How can parents help support their children?   Encourage time management Remind them to prioritize Recommend they form study groups Designate specific areas for homework and studying

The Benefits of AP Courses At FCHS, AP and Pre-AP grades are weighted. This means that for each qualifying course where a student earns a C- or higher, he/she will receive an additional .6667 in his/her GPA. AP courses are often the most interesting and fulfilling courses a student takes in high school. AP teachers are among the most prepared, dedicated, and inspiring teachers at their schools. Students develop confidence, and learn the study habits and time management skills essential for success in college. AP courses can be challenging, but it’s work that pays off.

Diploma Requirements Academic Honors Franklin Central Honors 4 AP credits Corresponding exams 47 credits Franklin Central Honors 12 AP/Pre-AP credits Corresponding exams 47 credits Largely due to FC’s growing AP program, the number of students graduating with an Academic Honors diploma increased 86% from 2010 to 2016.

Pre-AP and AP Offerings Core Content Areas Elective Areas English Math Science Social Studies Performing Arts Visual Arts World Language Business Increased AP sections 36 in 2011-2012 45 in 2015-2016 31 %

English Department Pre-AP English 9 Pre-AP English 10 AP English Language and Composition (Grade 11) AP English Literature and Composition (Grade 12) Summer reading is a requirement of each offering. Lists will be available at registration and on the school’s website (www.ftcsc.k12.in.us) under the “Course Catalog” menu option.

Math Department Algebra II Pre-AP Geometry Pre-AP Pre-Calculus Pre-AP AP Calculus AB AP Calculus BC AP Statistics

Science Department Pre-AP Biology Pre-AP Chemistry AP Biology AP Physics 1 AP Physics 2 AP Environmental Science

Social Studies Dept. Pre-AP Geography /History of the World AP World History AP United States History AP Macroeconomics AP US Government AP Psychology

Business Department AP Computer Science Provides a practical application of AP knowledge for Technical Honors diploma candidates Attracts students to AP that may not be interested in traditional AP subjects

Fine Arts Department Performing Arts AP Music Theory AP Art History

AP Exams AP Exams are administered by schools worldwide on set dates each May. Exams usually last around three hours. Each AP Exam contains: Multiple-choice questions Free-response questions (essay, problem-solving, oral response)

AP Exam Fees The exam fee for 2016 is $92 per exam. The State of Indiana provides a grant which historically covers the cost for Math, Science and English exams. Assistance is available for eligible students with financial need. College Board sets the cost of the exams and reconsiders the amount annually. If your school is located outside of the United States, Canada, and U.S. Territories and Commonwealths, and is not a U.S. Department of Defense Dependents School, the 2012 exam fee is $117. Fees vary at some private College Board-authorized testing centers outside of the United States. Information about AP fee reductions can be found at: www.collegeboard.com/apfeereductions Information about additional state and federal funding for AP Exam fees can be found at: www.collegeboard.com/apexamfeeassistance

Why Take AP Exams? Most two- and four-year colleges and universities in the United States offer credit or advanced placement for qualifying AP Exam scores. Indiana, state law mandates that any student scoring a 3 or higher on an AP exam must receive equivalent college credit at a state college or university. Advanced placement: Students can skip introductory courses and move directly into higher-level classes, and/or fulfill general education requirements.

How do we rate? In 2016, Franklin Central students scored significantly higher than the Indiana average in English Language, English Literature, Macroeconomics, Psychology, US Government, World History, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Statistics, Biology, Chemistry, Psychology, and Physics. More students passed AP exams with a 3 or higher in 2016 than merely attempted an AP test 5 years ago!

AP Success at FCHS 602 FC Students took 1,106 AP exams last year. FCHS is committed to every student’s success…rigorous coursework plays an essential role 602 FC Students took 1,106 AP exams last year. 34.9% of 2016 Graduates scored a 3+ on at least 1 AP Exam. This has grown every year since 2010, when 10.8% of FC Graduates scored a 3 or higher. 101 students were recognized as AP Scholars AP Scholars demonstrate superior college-level achievement through AP courses and exams, earning a 3 or higher on 3 or more AP Exams. Discussion topic: How can parents help support their children?   Encourage time management Remind them to prioritize Recommend they form study groups Designate specific areas for homework and studying

Multi-Year School Score Summary The increased participation of minority and low-SES students has been the major contributing factor to the growth of FCHS’s AP program. 2102 2013 2014 2015 2016 Total AP Students 425 542 597 588 602 Number of Exams 807 1022 1102 1023 1106 Students with Scores 3+ 188 207 313 310 357

Equity and Excellence 34.9% of FC’s Class of 2015 scored a 3 or higher on at least one AP exam while in High School. 10.8% of FC’s Class of 2010 scored a 3 or higher on at least one AP exam.

School Scholar Roster 54 17 30 4 3.24 3.59 4.02 4.82 2016 Results AP Scholar w/Honor w/Distinction National AP Scholar # of Scholars 54 17 30 4 Avg. Score 3.24 3.59 4.02 4.82 Criteria Granted to students who receive scores of 3+ on three or more AP exams Average score of 3.25+ on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3+ on four or more exams Average score of 3.5+ on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3+ on five or more exams Average score of 4+ on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 4+ on eight or more exams

FC’s AP Success in the News Schools seeing more high school students taking Advanced Placement classes In December 2012, The Indianapolis Star published a feature article addressing the importance of an Academic Honors Diploma when preparing students for college success. AP courses were spotlighted as a significant contributing factor to that success

AP and College Success “One of the best standard predictors of academic success at Harvard is performance on Advanced Placement Examinations.” —William Fitzsimmons, Dean of Admissions & Financial Aid, Harvard University A recent study* showed that students who earned a 3, 4, or 5 on the AP Exam had higher first-year college grade point averages and were more likely to return for the second year of college than non- AP students of similar ability. . *Krista Mattern, Emily Shaw, and Xinhui Xiong, “The Relationship Between AP Exam Performance and College Outcomes” (2009), The College Board.

AP and College Admission “We look favorably on students who have taken AP courses. The presence of AP courses is a sign that a student has chosen to challenge him/herself.” —Admission Officer Colleges rank “Grades in college prep courses” and “Strength of curriculum” as the top two factors in the admission decision.* 85% of selective colleges and universities report that a student’s AP experience favorably impacts admission decisions.** **For the purposes of this study, “selective” institutions were defined as those where less than 70 percent of applicants were admitted, the mean SAT score was 1025 or higher, and mean ACT score was 22 or higher. * 2009 State of College Admission, NACAC ** Unpublished institutional research, Crux Research Inc. March 2007

AP Boosts Eligibility for Scholarships “Having the AP Exam score can make the difference when it comes down to awarding precious scholarship dollars.” —Edwina Harris Hamby, former Dean of Admission, Fisk University 31% of colleges and universities consider a student’s AP experience when making decisions about which students will receive scholarships.* * Unpublished institutional research, Crux Research Inc. March 2007

AP Credit Policy Information Information about AP credit and placement policies at many colleges and universities is available at www.collegeboard.org/apcreditpolicy Search by college or university name or by letter of the alphabet You will see two things for each school: A link to the college’s own Web page that details its AP credit and placement policies. A statement by the college or university about its AP policy.

AP Helps Students Graduate on Time… Students who take AP courses and exams are much more likely than their peers to complete a college degree on time. Only one in four students who enter college complete a bachelor’s degree in four years.* A recent study** showed that students taking AP courses and exams were much more likely to earn a college degree in four years. For example, AP English Literature students had four-year college graduation rates that were 62% higher than students that had not taken AP English Literature. * Of the remaining 73% of students who do not complete a bachelor’s degree in four years, approximately 25% earn a bachelor’s degree in 5 or 6 years, approximately 25% drop out or take more than 6 years to earn a bachelor’s degree, and approximately 23% transfer to another college or university, with typically lower graduation rates than students who do not transfer. * IPEDS database, 2008 ** Linda Hargrove, Donn Godin, and Barbara Dodd, “College Outcomes Comparisons by AP and Non-AP High School Experiences.” The College Board, 2008.

… and Save Money Students who take five years or more to graduate can spend tens of thousands of dollars for each additional year in college. The typical college cost per year for a four-year public institution is $23,410 for in-state students* Students attending private institutions might expect to incur $32,600 for each additional year it takes to earn a bachelor’s degree** *The College Board, Trends in College Pricing 2014, Figure 1 **http://www.statisticbrain.com/average-cost-of-college-tuition/

AP Credit Expands Students’ Options College credit earned through AP Exams allows students to move into upper-level college courses sooner, pursue a double major, and gain time to study and travel abroad. “As a freshman, I was able to skip general education requirements and head straight into the higher-level classes I wanted to take. Taking AP Exams literally saved me semesters of time.”—Brent Wiese, University of Iowa

What Does this mean? In 2016, 602 Franklin Central students earned 1,513 state college/university credits. Those 1,513 credits come at a modest average cost of $350 per credit hour. That means FCHS students saved about $530,000 by participating in AP exams this year! 8 FCHS graduating seniors were eligible to start their first year at a state college or university as sophomores based upon credits earned through AP exams. 42 additional graduating seniors were eligible to start their first year at a state college or university as second semester freshmen.

Learn More More information about the AP program at Franklin Central High School is available in the course catalog. Please visit http://www.ftcsc.k12.in.us/fchs/Guidance/26/ For more information about AP courses and exams visit www.collegeboard.org/apstudents