• Advanced Placement at Parkview High School

    Parkview High School is pleased to offer over 25 different Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Parents and students are encouraged to educate themselves on the classes available and the teachers’ expectations of students. Each AP course is taught at the college-level, offering the opportunity for willing and motivated students to challenge themselves.

  • What is an AP Course?

    An AP course is comparable to a course taught at any college or university.  AP courses are much more rigorous than high school college prep courses.  In all AP courses, students learn how to think critically and write clearly.

    Committee members, sponsored by the College Board, put together a set of topics and objectives for each AP course.  Our AP teachers use these topics and objectives as a guideline for their curriculum.  The AP exams which are administered during the first weeks of May are comprised of problems from these objectives.  If a student passes an AP exam, then he/she may receive college credit.

    In order to be permitted to use College Board's AP designation, all Parkview AP teachers have submitted syllabi for their courses, which have been approved by College Board.
Cap and Gown

  • Why take AP?

    (from Explore AP from the College Board)

    Earn College Credit and Advanced Placement

    • Receive recognition from more than 3,600 colleges and universities that annually receive AP Exam scores. Over 90% of 4-year colleges in the U.S. provide credit and/or advanced placement for qualifying scores.
    • Have time to move into upper-level courses in your field of interest, pursue a double major, or study abroad.
    • Design a college experience that suits you and gives you the flexibility to get the most out of your college years.

    Stand Out in the College Admissions Process

    • Demonstrate your maturity and readiness for college.
    • Show your willingness to take the most rigorous courses available to you.
    • Emphasize your commitment to academic excellence.

    Gain Skills that Will Help You Succeed in College

    • Get a head start on college-level work.
    • Improve your writing skills and sharpen your problem-solving techniques.
    • Develop the study habits necessary for tackling rigorous course work.

    Broaden Your Intellectual Horizons

    • Be part of a community of students and educators who are passionate, curious, and committed to academic excellence
    • Engage in intense discussions, solve problems collaboratively, and learn to write clearly and persuasively
    • Take courses that are developed by leading professors to reflect the level of learning happening at colleges throughout the country

  • Should you take an AP course?

    AP courses are more demanding than other college preparatory courses taught in high school.  They move rapidly and cover a great deal of material.  If you are a strong student in a particular subject area, then you will probably do well.  Your current teacher can advise you.

    Since AP courses are more demanding than other college-prep courses, AP students receive 10 points added to their average (in each AP course) at the end of each semester to balance any grade discrepancy.  (Note:  The 10 points is not used in calculating GPA for Hope Scholarship eligibility.  See your counselor for details on how your GPA is calculated for Hope.)  Students who excel may have higher than a 100 average in the class.

    Colleges look favorably on students who succeed in AP courses.  The presence of AP courses in a student's transcript indicates that a student took the most rigorous courses available.

  • AP Credit Policy Search 

    Please use the College Board Credit Search to search the colleges/universities that you are interested in attending to see if the AP course you are taking or would like to take will be accepted at that college/university.