For more information about AP courses and testing, visit the CollegeBoard website.

St. Mary’s High School offers the following AP courses:

• AP U.S. History
• AP Chemistry
• AP Calculus (AB)
• AP English Literature and Composition
• AP Language and Composition
• AP Spanish
• AP Art

AP courses are considered college-level courses, and many colleges and universities grant college credit for these courses based on the completion and acceptable scoring on the AP tests. College admission officers look for AP courses on transcripts, as it demonstrates readiness for college and the willingness to take rigorous, challenging courses.

Juniors and Seniors are eligible to take AP courses. Students must demonstrate willingness to work hard and earn acceptable grades prior to being placed in an AP course. Entrance into AP courses is selective; the AP course instructor makes the final decision about student placement in an AP course.

We recommend that a student does not take more than three AP courses during one academic year. AP course grades are weighted, i.e., A = 5.0 GPA, B = 4.0 GPA, and so on.

AP exams are administered by the College Board and are given on national test dates in May. Students are not required to take AP tests; however if the AP test is not taken, a final exam will be given by the teacher in its place. Students taking Physics, Statistics, and Computer Programming may also sit for the AP exams in those subjects.

AP Test Fees
Each AP test has a fee (approximately $85) and students are responsible for those fees.