The Advanced Placement Program, sponsored by the College Board, is an intensive program of college-level curricula and examinations that provides high school students with the opportunity to earn college credit while in high school. Faculty members who teach AP courses at Houston Christian High School develop their course by designing a syllabus and reading schedule to emulate that of college level courses. It is important to understand that AP and Pre-AP courses are designed to challenge the highly motivated student.
AP courses are designed for the independent learner; one who is not dependent on rote memorization and simple solutions. AP courses work best with a student-centered seminar approach, one in which students make presentations and lead the class in a discussion of outside work. AP courses ask students to extend their knowledge beyond the general scope of logic.
Parents play an essential role in the success of his or her AP student. It is easy for parents to look at grade point average as the determinate for getting into college. However, research indicates that students who take easy classes while in high school tend to struggle in college. Although GPA is considered for gaining admission to college, it is not the variable that determines how successful a student will be once he or she is in college. According to college admission’s officers, the best predictor of college success is the type of courses a student takes while in high school. All AP courses offered at HCHS have been approved through the College Board.