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| Honors
Level and AP Classes
AP Classes: Course
work begins in June with required
summer reading in some classes
(any loss of points for work
not completed will be spread
over all four quarters).
If a student drops one of these
classes, his/her transcript
will show W/F (Withdrawal/Failure).
In some cases, Junior English
for example, the class could
be closed, causing the student
who dropped the AP class to
take Junior English during the
senior year.
Students who take honors level
classes should fit the following
profile in order to assure success
in these classes:
Performance
The
student:
- consistently
strives to meet high academic
standards
- demonstrates
ability in abstract reasoning
- possesses
broad general knowledge
- respects
deadlines
- puts
forth "best effort",
not just "good enough"
effort
- demonstrates
probing curiosity
- acts
with maturity in the classroom
- participates
actively in class discussion
- demonstrates
pride in work submitted
- textbooks
used will be generally above
the grade level
- may be
expected to participate in
extracurricular academic activities
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Attitude
The student:
- assumes responsibility
for his/her own learning
- possesses a
strong work ethic
- expects at
least one hour of nightly homework
in the honors class
- comes to class
prepared to work
- seeks opportunities
for enrichment
- welcomes creative
and challenging assignments
- suggests own
assignments (where applicable)
Behavior
The student:
- uses class
time wisely
- respects classmates
and teacher
- demonstrates
personal integrity
Attendance
The student:
- seldom misses
class
- arrives punctually
- completes make-up
work immediately
Generally speaking,
students who sign up for honors classes
should meet the following criteria
in the appropriate subject area in
grade 8:
- Scores at
the 90% in standardized tests
- Earns a minimum
of a "B" letter grade
in the appropriate grade 8 classes
- Has a teacher
recommendation.
Students should
not sign up for honors classes with
the idea of dropping the class if
they cannot earn the grade they want
or find the class too difficult. Signing
up for these classes is a yearlong
commitment by both the student and
the parents.
The Advanced
Placement (AP) Program
The AP program is an offering of college-level
courses and exams for ambitious secondary
school students. It is a special learning
experience that takes a full year.
AP courses are typically more challenging
and require more work than other high
school courses. At the end of the
year, students should plan to take
an AP exam. Over 90 % of the colleges
that most AP candidates have attended
give credit and/or advanced placement
to students whose AP exam grades are
considered acceptable. The exam fee
is set by the College Board and must
be paid for each exam selected.
At Loveland High School, AP classes
are offered in these areas: biology,
calculus, chemistry, physics, English,
and American history. Student selection
for AP courses is based upon teacher
recommendations and additional criteria
as listed in the course description.
To compensate for the increased amount
of student effort in AP level courses,
letter grades will be weighted one
additional point (e.g. A=5 points,
B=4 points, C=3 points, D=1 point).
Additional Notes
- Fee reductions
are provided for qualified candidates
who are unable to pay the full cost
for each exam. Contact the AP coordinator
for the qualifications.
- Students should
remember that AP credit is awarded
by the college or university, not
by the College Board, that it is
often awarded after analyzing the
student's entire record rather than
being automatic, and that some institutions
specify particular exams.
- By completing
AP courses, students are more likely
to persist and succeed in college.
They save time and money by quicker
entry into advanced courses of their
choice. Finally, the time saved
can be used in many satisfying ways:
study abroad, honors, broader exploration,
advanced study, independent learning,
internships, or for work experience.
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