Advanced Placement

Why Take AP Classes?

As you begin thinking about your college applications, you may feel overwhelmed by the competition and uncertainty of the process. You've worked hard in high school, but how do you know if you're truly prepared for the academic demands of college?

Taking an Advanced Placement (AP) course is a powerful way to signal to colleges and universities that you have what it takes to succeed in college-level coursework. AP courses are designed to provide students with the opportunity to explore subjects in greater depth and rigor than typical high school classes. By taking an AP course, you show admissions officers that you're willing to challenge yourself and take on college-level expectations.

But that's not all. AP courses also offer a consistent measure of course rigor across high schools, districts, states, and countries. All AP teachers must provide a curriculum that meets college standards, so when admissions officers see "AP" on your transcript, they have a good understanding of the coursework and expectations you've experienced in a particular subject.

AP courses can also help you stand out in the increasingly competitive college admissions process. By demonstrating your ability to handle the rigors of college-level coursework, you make yourself a more attractive candidate to admissions officers. And if you do well on the corresponding AP exam, you may even be able to earn college credit before you arrive on campus!

In short, taking AP courses is a smart choice for students who are committed to academic excellence and eager to demonstrate their readiness for college. If you're considering taking an AP course, talk to your guidance counselor or AP teacher to learn more about what's available at your school. With hard work and dedication, you can set yourself apart and achieve your college goals.

How AP Can Save You Money

The cost of college continues to rise each year, making it increasingly difficult for many high school students to imagine pursuing higher education. But there's good news: by taking and succeeding in an AP course, you have the opportunity to save on college expenses and potentially even earn college credit.

More than 90 percent of colleges and universities across the country offer college credit, advanced placement, or both, for qualifying AP Exam scores. This means that by earning a qualifying score on an AP exam, you can potentially earn college credit and save thousands of dollars on tuition, fees, and textbooks. Suddenly, the dream of attending college becomes much more feasible.

But the benefits of earning college credit through AP courses go beyond just cost savings. If you know what you want to major in at college, taking an AP course related to that major and earning a qualifying score on the AP exam can help you gain advanced placement out of introductory courses. This means that you can potentially skip over crowded and repetitive required courses, and move directly into upper-level classes where you can focus on the work that interests you most.

Even if you take an AP exam unrelated to your major, or if you're not yet sure what you want to major in, AP courses can often help you place out of your college's general education requirements. This can free up additional time on your class schedule to pursue a second major or minor, take exciting electives, or explore new interests in more depth.

In short, taking AP courses can offer a valuable opportunity to save on college expenses, gain advanced placement, and pursue your academic interests with greater freedom and flexibility. If you're interested in earning college credit through AP courses, talk to your guidance counselor or AP teacher to learn more about your options and what's available at your school.

Research College AP Policies

To learn more about which colleges and universities offer credit for AP courses, check out The College Board's AP credit search site. With this tool, you can search for colleges and AP courses to see which institutions offer credit for qualifying scores on AP exams.

It's important to note that not every college issues credit for AP classes in the same way. Some may only offer credit for certain courses, while others may require higher scores on AP exams to earn credit. By using the AP credit search site, you can find out exactly what to expect from different colleges and universities, and better understand how to maximize the benefits of your AP coursework.

To get started, simply click on the button below to visit The College Board's AP credit search site. From there, you can search for specific colleges or AP courses to find out more about how your AP coursework can translate into college credit.

CollegeBoard's AP Credit Policy Search

Available AP Courses

The Advanced Placement courses below are currently offered to students in Northwest ISD. Clicking on the Course title will provide you a link to content information about the course as provided by the College Board. Please keep in mind that not all campuses offer every course on this list. Campuses base decisions to offer courses by considering the number of requests from students and the availability of qualified staff.