Advanced Placement (AP)

  • West Linn High School students discuss an assignment.
     
    Since 1955, the Advanced Placement (AP) Program® has allowed students the opportunity to take college-level courses in a high school setting while earning credit or advanced standing at most colleges and universities.  The benefits of the AP Program, for those students who are ready and willing, are a greater intellectual challenge, a head start on college-level work and the opportunity to stand out in the college admissions process.
     
    The College Board facilitates the AP Program - developing and publishing course guidelines; administering and scoring examinations; and providing grade reports to students, schools, and designated colleges.  There are currently 34 courses and exams within the AP Program.  The majority of United States high schools participate in the AP Program and over 90% of the nation's 4-year colleges and universities have an AP policy granting incoming students credit, placement, or both, for qualifying AP Exam grades.
     

    AP Courses

    The West Linn-Wilsonville School District currently offers the following high school courses that follow the published AP course guidelines and prepare students for the AP exam:

    The Arts
    • AP Art History
    • AP Studio Art: Drawing
    • AP Studio Art: 2-D Design
    • AP Studio Art: 3-D Design
    • AP Music Theory
    		Science
    • AP Biology
    • AP Chemistry
    • AP Environmental Science
    • AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based
    • AP Physics 2: Algebra-Based<
    • AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism<
    • AP Physics C: Mechanics
    English
    • AP English Language and Composition
    • AP English Literature and Composition
    		World Language
    • AP French Language and Culture
    • AP Spanish Language and Culture
    Mathematics & Computer Science
    • AP Calculus AB
    • AP Calculus BC
    • AP Statistics
    • AP Computer Science A
    		 History & Social Sciences
    • AP European History
    • AP United States History
    • AP World History
    • AP Psychology
    • AP Microeconomics
    • AP Macroeconomics
    • AP United States Government and Politics
    • AP Human Geography

     Advanced Placement (AP) Course Information

    • AP courses are designated as such by the course name (e.g.  AP US History, AP Biology, AP Calculus AB, etc.) and students in these courses are required to take the AP exam as a part of the course.   A few advanced courses have the opportunity for AP designation; students who opt for AP in these courses work with the teacher on the qualitative (and sometimes quantitative) differences in designation.  AP determination in these situations must be made early in the school year to allow the sending of proper transcripts to colleges.

    • Students enrolled in AP courses must pay for the cost of the AP exam when billed by the bookkeeper in the fall.  Students who take the AP opportunity within another course will be billed when the AP designation for the course is noted on the transcript.

    • Students receive an added 1.0 “weighted” grade point for an AP course (i.e.  “A” is a 5.0, “B” is a 4.0, “C” is a 3.0, and “D” is a 1.0.  Any grade of “F” receives 0 points).

    • The AP testing schedule and conditions are set by the College Board.  Students must take the exam at the designated time, and should note that afternoon tests conclude at 4:00 pm.  Students may not leave the testing site early.  (There are a very limited number of exceptions allowing students to take the test on an alternate date.)

    • AP courses are rigorous academically, rich in content, and a wonderful challenge for students.  The district supports students who desire the challenge Advanced Placement courses offer; we also acknowledge that the College Board recommends students take no more than 2 AP courses at a time, due to the demanding nature of the course load.  We want students (with their parents) to make wise choices about their course schedule and balance of activities in their lives.

    • Not all courses are taught at both high schools at the same time and some courses may only be offered alternating years.  Please contact the individual high schools with specific AP course questions.

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