LAPS NEWS
AP Night is scheduled from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28 in the Topper Library at Los Alamos High School. All current LAHS students and parents are invited to attend.
Attendees will be able to meet with teachers and students to learn more about Advanced Placement (AP) and Honors classes offered at LAHS, as well as dual credit programs.
All LAHS students must take an AP class, an Honors class, an online class, or a dual credit class to fulfill a graduation requirement. LAHS currently offers 8 Honors courses, 25 AP courses, and several dual credit classes.
Advanced Placement Program (AP) courses are college-level courses offered in high school. At the end of the course, students are required to take the AP exam in order to be eligible to earn a weighted grade.
According to the Princeton Review, there are five benefits for students to taking AP classes in high school:
Prep for college
AP classes can be as challenging as introductory college courses. They are fast-paced, cover more material than regular classes, and require independent work like research and analysis. Getting a dose of a college-level curriculum early on could ease your transition from high school senior to first-year college student.
Rise to the top of the pile
AP classes show admissions officers that you’re ready for college-level work. Admissions counselors consistently tell us that good grades and academic rigor are the most important factors when schools evaluate applications.
Strengthen your transcript
Many high schools give extra weight to AP grades when calculating your GPA. Taking an AP class and getting a B is often a better choice than getting an A in a regular course.
Study what you love
There are 38 AP subjects from computer science to Japanese language and culture, although your high school may only offer some of these. Choosing a subject you’re interested in, or have had previous success in, will help you commit to the workload.
Get a head start on college requirements (and save some tuition dollars)
If your college offers AP credit, a score of a 4 or higher could allow you to earn college credits without paying college tuition. Some students are able to skip the entire first year of college this way, thus cutting the entire cost of your college education by one quarter.
Last year 386 students were enrolled in AP courses at LAHS, and took 688 AP exams in May; 79% scored a 3 or higher on their exams.
For more information about AP Night, contact Connie Goettee, AP Coordinator, at (505) 663-2204 or c.goettee@laschools.net.