AP courses offer college-level coursework in high school and allow students to earn college credit or advanced placement. Students take AP exams at the end of each course to demonstrate their mastery of college-level material. Doing well on AP exams can help students earn credit or placement in advanced college courses. Taking AP courses improves students' chances of college admission and graduation.

2. at West Potomac High School

3. Advanced Placement ProgramAdvanced Placement Program®®
(AP(AP®®
)) coursescourses areare
college-level courses offered in high school. APcollege-level courses offered in high school. AP
courses reflect what is taught in top introductorycourses reflect what is taught in top introductory
college coursescollege courses
At the end of course, students takeAt the end of course, students take AP ExamsAP Exams——
standardized exams that measure how well studentsstandardized exams that measure how well students
have mastered college-level course work.have mastered college-level course work.
Students who do well on AP Exams can earn creditStudents who do well on AP Exams can earn credit
and/or placement into advanced courses in college.and/or placement into advanced courses in college.
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4. AP courses can be challenging,AP courses can be challenging,
but it’s work that pays off.but it’s work that pays off.
AP courses are often the mostAP courses are often the most
interesting and fulfilling courses ainteresting and fulfilling courses a
student takes in high school.student takes in high school.
AP teachers are among the mostAP teachers are among the most
prepared, dedicated, and inspiringprepared, dedicated, and inspiring
teachers at their schools.teachers at their schools.
Students develop confidence, and learnStudents develop confidence, and learn
the study habits and time managementthe study habits and time management
skills essential for success in college.skills essential for success in college.
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5.  Colleges rank “Grades inColleges rank “Grades in
college prep courses” andcollege prep courses” and
“Strength of curriculum” as“Strength of curriculum” as
thethe top two factorstop two factors in thein the
admission decision.*admission decision.*
 85% of selective colleges and85% of selective colleges and
universities report that auniversities report that a
student’s AP experiencestudent’s AP experience
favorably impactsfavorably impacts admissionadmission
decisions.**decisions.**
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“We look favorably on
students who have
taken AP courses. The
presence of AP
courses is a sign that a
student has chosen to
challenge him/herself.”
—Admission Officer
* 2009 State of College Admission, NACAC
** Unpublished institutional research, Crux Research Inc. March 2007

6. More than 3,200 colleges andMore than 3,200 colleges and
universities offer credit oruniversities offer credit or
advanced placement foradvanced placement for
qualifying AP Exam scores. Thisqualifying AP Exam scores. This
includes more thanincludes more than 90 percent90 percent ofof
four-year U.S. colleges andfour-year U.S. colleges and
universities.universities.
CreditCredit: Students earn points toward their: Students earn points toward their
college degreescollege degrees
Advanced placementAdvanced placement: Students can skip: Students can skip
introductory courses, enter higher-levelintroductory courses, enter higher-level
classes, and/or fulfillclasses, and/or fulfill
general education requirements.general education requirements.
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““One of the best standardOne of the best standard
predictors of academic successpredictors of academic success
at Harvard is performance onat Harvard is performance on
Advanced PlacementAdvanced Placement
Examinations.”Examinations.”
——William Fitzsimmons,William Fitzsimmons,
Dean of Admissions &Dean of Admissions &
Financial Aid, HarvardFinancial Aid, Harvard
UniversityUniversity

7. Students who take AP courses and exams areStudents who take AP courses and exams are
much more likely than their peers to complete amuch more likely than their peers to complete a
college degree on time.college degree on time.
OnlyOnly one in fourone in four students who enter college complete a bachelor’sstudents who enter college complete a bachelor’s
degree in four years.*degree in four years.*
 A recent study** showed that students taking AP courses and examsA recent study** showed that students taking AP courses and exams
werewere much more likelymuch more likely to earn a college degree in four years.to earn a college degree in four years.
For example, AP English Literature students had four-yearFor example, AP English Literature students had four-year
college graduation rates that werecollege graduation rates that were 62% higher62% higher than students that hadthan students that had
not taken AP English Literature.not taken AP English Literature.
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* IPEDS database, 2008
** Linda Hargrove, Donn Godin, and Barbara Dodd, “College Outcomes Comparisons by AP
and Non-AP High School Experiences.” The College Board, 2008.

8. 31%31% of colleges andof colleges and
universities consider auniversities consider a
student’s AP experiencestudent’s AP experience
when making decisions aboutwhen making decisions about
which students will receivewhich students will receive
scholarships.*scholarships.*
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“Having the AP Exam score can
make the difference when it
comes down to awarding
precious scholarship dollars.”
—Edwina Harris Hamby, former
Dean of Admission, Fisk
University
* Unpublished institutional research, Crux Research Inc. March 2007

9.  For more information about AP courses and
exams visit
www.collegeboard.com/apstudentswww.collegeboard.com/apstudents
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10.  Alex Amico, JuniorAlex Amico, Junior
 Aileen Fagan, SeniorAileen Fagan, Senior
 Margaret Grady, SeniorMargaret Grady, Senior
 Christine Gannon, SeniorChristine Gannon, Senior
 Dale Lescher, SeniorDale Lescher, Senior
 Emily Ann Key, SeniorEmily Ann Key, Senior

12.  West Potomac is a PLC School:West Potomac is a PLC School: WorkingWorking
collaboratively, teachers can structure commoncollaboratively, teachers can structure common
activities, interventions, and instruction basedactivities, interventions, and instruction based
on analysis of assessments.on analysis of assessments.
 Advanced Academics Mentoring Program:Advanced Academics Mentoring Program:
Underclassmen students in advanced coursesUnderclassmen students in advanced courses
are invited to be mentored by upperclassmenare invited to be mentored by upperclassmen
with experiences in taking similar courses,with experiences in taking similar courses,
providing advice on time management andproviding advice on time management and
study skills.study skills.
 Summer AP Boost Camp:Summer AP Boost Camp: Students have theStudents have the
opportunity to work with AP teachers onopportunity to work with AP teachers on
essential skills pertaining to the major contentessential skills pertaining to the major content
areas, in an effort to start the school year off onareas, in an effort to start the school year off on
the right foot.the right foot.

13. • Break-Out Sessions:Break-Out Sessions:
 7:40-7:50:7:40-7:50: Session 1 (World History7:40-8:00)Session 1 (World History7:40-8:00)
 Counseling and Course Registration Info- Remain inCounseling and Course Registration Info- Remain in
Auditoriumto meet with Counselors and AdministratorsAuditoriumto meet with Counselors and Administrators
 7:55-8:057:55-8:05: Session 2: Session 2
 8:10-8:208:10-8:20: Session 3 (World History8:10-8:30): Session 3 (World History8:10-8:30)
 8:25-8:358:25-8:35: Session 4: Session 4
 8:40-8:508:40-8:50: Session 5: Session 5

14.  All registrationAll registration
materials are located onmaterials are located on
the WPHS websitethe WPHS website
through the Studentthrough the Student
Services office on-site:Services office on-site:
 Further information onFurther information on
Advanced AcademicAdvanced Academic
Programs can be foundPrograms can be found
on the FCPS website:on the FCPS website:

15.  Alex CaseAlex Case
 Assistant PrincipalAssistant Principal
 abcase@fcps.eduabcase@fcps.edu
 Allison SatterwhiteAllison Satterwhite
 Advanced Academics CoordinatorAdvanced Academics Coordinator
 alsatterwhit@fcps.edualsatterwhit@fcps.edu
 See the WPHS website for additionalSee the WPHS website for additional
faculty/staff contact information, as well asfaculty/staff contact information, as well as
Advanced Academics informationAdvanced Academics information