Willy Chertman
For the last two years the number of students taking AP classes has risen dramatically, and this coming year, our educators are pushing for even more. This is a good thing. AP stands for Advanced Placement, classes that teach College level material to High-school students. At the end of the year the students take an AP test, which reviews their knowledge of the subject, and its graded on a scale of 1-5, 3 being a pass grade.
However, a passing grade isn’t required to reap the benefits of AP tests. AP classes are given 2 extra points on the GPA scale, boosting GPA. More importantly, students who pass those (AP tests) have a much higher chance of graduating college. Even students who take an AP class, and fill the test, still have a higher college graduation rate than non-AP takers.
Students who take AP classes in a certain subject also go on to do more course work in college, and more classes on the subject, than non-AP students. As an added benefit, AP students also have a higher rate of graduating faster, saving up to 19,000 dollars in college funds. In today’s economic downturn this can mean the difference between being able to continue in college and having to withdraw.
Many make the point of unprepared students taking AP classes, when they’re unable to handle the work load. They miss the point. AP classes are meant to prepare students for college, and teach them how to handle a college-level workload. Better to find out sooner that college level work is difficult, and requires a large amount of effort. When students take AP classes and are unprepared, they risk grades, and possibly a class. But when students take a college class and are unprepared, they’re putting jobs at risk.
