Advanced Placement

College and Career Readiness

As we embark on year 2 of the curriculum renewal cycle and the planning for implementation of MassCore, we will continue to develop stronger pathways for our Advanced Placement students. With our focus on equity and access, we have made excellent gains in participation as well as qualifying scores. In our effort to support all our students for success on Advanced Placement exams, we will continue to offer professional development to teachers, grades 5-12.

District AP Coordinator

Advanced Placement Policy

The policy for acceptance to Advanced Placement Courses is as follows:

1. Students who are interested in Advanced Placement Courses must notify their Guidance Counselor by completing an Advanced Placement Request Form. In order to establish consistent, city-wide guidelines for the student selection process for Advanced Placement courses, the following prerequisites are recommended:
   
   • Successful completion of suggested pathway courses in the appropriate subject area(s). However, this should not preclude consideration of a student.
   • Recommendation of current or most recent subject area teacher.
   • Recommendation of AVID teacher, if applicable.
   • Meeting with principal and appropriate department head to resolve
   • questions or issues.
   • Participation in meeting for all A.P. candidates with A.P. teachers
   • to discuss expectations and course work.
   • Students' grades
   • Signature of parents/guardians and students on A.P. contract committing to meeting summer and course assignment requirements.
   • Satisfactory completion of assigned A.P. summer work by the start
   • of the school year.
   • Recommendations noted on A.P. Potential Report based on PSAT
   • scores
2. Students who take Advanced Placement Courses must pay for their own Advanced Placement exam. Scholarships and reduced fees are available for eligible students through the Guidance Office. Any student in an Advanced Placement Course who passes the course, but does not take the Advanced Placement examination, will receive credit for an honors course.
3. All Advanced Placement Courses have a Guide Book as prepared by the College Board. Each department prepares a syllabus for the department course. The Guide Book and syllabus are available in the Guidance Office at the time of application.