Advanced Placement (AP®) Program

AbouttheAdvancedPlacement®AP®Program

The AP Program gives students a chance to experience college-level classes in high school and opens the door to earning college credit before the student ever sets foot on a college campus. Students will get to dig deeper into subjects they love while building the skills and confidence they need to succeed in college.

Bishop Grimes currently offers AP® courses in at least ten subjects, each of which culminates in a mandatory exam in May. It is the policy of Bishop Grimes that when a student is enrolled in an AP® course that he/she will take the AP® exam regardless of whether his/her college will accept AP® credits. If a student scores a 3 or higher (on a scale of 1-5), he/she could earn college credit, skip intro-level courses, or both, at thousands of U.S. colleges and universities. Earning college credit in high school means paying for fewer credits in college. It also opens up a student’s schedule, allowing him/her to take more electives, pursue a second major, or study abroad.

Regardless of a student’s AP® Exam score, taking AP® courses can have a positive impact on his/her college applications. Admissions officers know college faculty play a big role in developing AP® courses, so they recognize that students who take AP® courses push themselves to take challenging, college-level courses. This is something colleges like to see.

Take some time to look through the AP® courses Bishop Grimes offers. See if any interest you. By taking these courses, students have the opportunity to find out what college work is like while having the support of teachers they trust in an environment they know.

Please note that many of the AP® courses do require the purchase of college-level textbooks, which is a cost that is the responsibility of the student. For each AP® course there is also a required summer assignment that must be completed. Details are provided upon enrollment in the course by the teacher.

AP®ExamRegistrationProcess

Students enrolled in AP® classes are required to register and pay for AP® Exams in the fall semester. The exams will take place in May. For help registering, talk to your AP® teacher, academic counselor, or the school’s AP® coordinator.