Advanced Placement (AP) Program

AP® is a rigorous academic program built on the commitment, passion and hard work of students and educators from both secondary schools and higher education. With more than 30 courses in a wide variety of subject areas, AP provides willing and academically prepared high school students with the opportunity to study and learn at the college level.

Through AP courses, talented and dedicated AP teachers help students develop and apply the skills, abilities and content knowledge they will need later in college. Each AP course is modeled upon a comparable college course, and college and university faculty play a vital role in ensuring that AP courses align with college-level standards. For example, through the AP Course Audit, AP teachers submit their syllabi for review and approval by college faculty. Only courses using syllabi that meet or exceed the college-level curricular and resource requirements for each AP course are authorized to carry the "AP" label.

AP courses culminate in a suite of college-level assessments developed and scored by college and university faculty members as well as experienced AP teachers. AP Exams are an essential part of the AP experience, enabling students to demonstrate their mastery of college-level course work. Strong performance on AP Exams is rewarded by colleges and universities worldwide. More than 90 percent of four-year colleges and universities in the United States grant students credit, placement or both on the basis of successful AP Exam scores. But performing well on an AP Exam means more than just the successful completion of a course; it is the gateway to success in college. Research consistently shows that students who score a 3 or higher typically experience greater academic success in college and improved graduation rates than their non-AP student peers.

Click here to visit the College Board Advanced Placement website.

Currently, St. Paul's offers the following AP courses:

Students may take the Advanced Placement tests in other subject areas with the approval of the appropriate teacher. Grades earned in AP courses are weighted by the numerical factor of 1.06 when grade-point averages are calculated. This represents a 4-to-6 point increase depending on the course grade. This increase is represented in the cumulative GPA only. The AP exam is required of all students in the Advanced Placement Program.

A waiver is a statement of understanding that taking a particular course is against the recommendation of a specific department. A waiver strongly recommends serious consideration be given as the predictors indicating success have not been met. Waivers are obtained from the current instructor. Counselors and administration will only place students in a non-recommended course when a waiver has been signed and conversations have taken place with the appropriate teachers.