Niceville High School

Advanced Placement Program
at Niceville High School

The Advanced Placement Program® is a cooperative educational endeavor between secondary schools and colleges and universities. Since its inception in 1955, the Program has provided motivated high school students with the opportunity to take college-level courses in a high school setting. Students who participate in the Program not only gain college-level skills, but in many cases they also earn college credit by scoring a 3 or higher on the AP exam at the end of the course. AP courses are taught by dedicated and enthusiastic high school teachers who follow course guidelines developed and published by the College Board. Visit www.collegeboard.com/parents for additional information.

Florida Ranks Fourth in the Nation in
Advanced Placement Student Performance

According to a national report issued by the College Board, more than one-fifth of Florida’s 2007 public high school graduates passed an Advanced Placement (AP) exam, ranking Florida fourth in the nation. Florida had the second greatest increase in the total number of public school students earning a passing score on an AP exam when compared to all other states from 2006 to 2007. In addition, Florida leads all states in the number of African-American and Hispanic students passing AP exams and has eliminated the Hispanic student achievement gap. Florida’s public school AP participation rate also outpaces the national participation rate. Nearly 40 percent of Florida’s 2007 graduating class took at least one AP exam during high school. In 2006, approximately one-third of AP students who went on to a Florida community college or university earned an average of 11 college credits prior to finishing high school. That credit translates into about four courses and an average cost savings of $745.80 for Florida public community college students and $1,228.48 for Florida public university students.

The winter 2008 issue of the College Board Florida Partnership Family News is now online.

In this issue, we encourage students to use the free online tools that help students understand what their PSAT/NMSQT® scores mean and help them on the path to college. A special section for parents talks about financial aid, Advanced Placement courses, and our websites in English and Spanish.

Please review Family News—written in English, Haitian Kreyol, and Spanish—and share it with your staff, faculty and families throughout your community.

Together we are preparing Florida's students for college success and future opportunities.

RECOMMENDED PROGRESSION OF ADVANCED PLACEMENT COURSE WORK

9th Grade	10th Grade	11th Grade	12th Grade
English I Honors	English II Honors	AP English Language & Composition	AP English Literature & Composition
Geometry Honors or Higher	Algebra II Honors or Higher (required for AP Physics)	Pre-Calculus or Trig/Analytical Geometry	AP Calculus
Biology I Honors	AP Environmental Science Chemistry I Honors (required for AP Biology)	AP Biology AP Environmental Science Chemistry II Honors (required for AP Chemistry) Physics I Honors (required for AP Physics)	AP Biology AP Chemistry AP Environmental Science AP Physics
AP European History	AP World History	AP American History	AP Economics AP Micro-economics AP Government AP Government: U.S.
Foreign Language of Choice * Spanish I Pacesetter French I Honors German I Honors *Latin I Honors	Foreign Language of Choice Spanish II Pacesetter French II Honors German II Honors Latin II Honors	Foreign Language of Choice Spanish III Pacesetter French III Honors German III Honors Latin III Honors	Foreign Language of Choice AP Spanish AP French AP German AP Latin
AP Elective: -AP Human Geography* - AP Music Theory	AP Elective(s): -AP Art History* -AP Human Geography -AP Music Theory -AP Statistics	AP Elective(s): -AP Art/Draw Portfolio* -AP Art History -AP Computer Science -AP Human Geography -AP Music Theory -AP Psychology -AP Statistics -AP Studio Art/2-D -AP Studio Art/3-D	AP Elective(s): - AP Art/Draw Portfolio* -AP Art History -AP Computer Science -AP Human Geography -AP Music Theory -AP Psychology -AP Statistics -AP Studio Art/2-D -AP Studio Art/3-D
Elective: Choose one additional elective of your choice.	Elective: Choose one additional elective of your choice.	Elective: Choose one additional elective of your choice.	Elective: Choose one additional elective of your choice.

*Students desiring to immerse themselves in the Advanced Placement Program should choose an additional AP Elective at each grade level. When considering students for admission, colleges and universities in Florida, as well as across the nation, place an extremely high emphasis on the number of college preparatory courses taken while in high school.

SPECIAL NOTES: Two years of the same foreign language, as well as four credits of social studies, are required for entrance into the Florida University System. In addition, one year of a fine and/or performing art is required for graduation from high school. All students must meet state and local requirements for graduation.

AP Exam Notes

All students enrolled in an AP course must sit for the AP exam at the end of the course, per Okaloosa County School District requirements.
A student not enrolled in an AP course may be eligible for consideration to take an AP exam at no cost if the student obtains permission from the teacher of the AP course.

AP SCHOLAR RECOGNITION

AP Scholar
The award of AP Scholar is granted to students who receive grades of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams on full-year courses (or the equivalent).

AP Scholar with Honor
AP Scholar with Honor is granted to students who receive an average grade of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams on full-year courses (or the equivalent).

AP Scholar with Distinction
AP Scholar with Distinction is granted to students who receive an average grade of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams on full-year courses (or the equivalent).

AP State Scholar
AP State Scholar is granted to the one male and one female student in each U.S. state and the District of Columbia with grades of 3 or higher on the greatest number of exams (at least three full-year course exams or the equivalent), and then the highest average grade (at least 3.5) on all AP Exams taken.

National AP Scholar
The award of National AP Scholar is granted to students in the United States who receive an average grade of at least 4 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams on full-year courses (or the equivalent).

Push the envelope on student success!

Florida Virtual School now offers free test reviews
to prepare students for the May AP exams

The reviews arm students with—

Test taking strategies specific to the AP exams
Real student work samples with explanations for graded entries
Grading rubrics, along with opportunities to apply them to student work

In addition, students have access to—

Practice tests
Essay prompts
Multiple-choice assessments
Study resources

AP Test Reviews are available for the following AP courses:

United States History
Calculus AB
English Language and Composition
English Literature and Composition
European History
Spanish Language
Biology
Macroeconomics
Art History
US Government and Politics

ALL STUDENTS SHOULD CHECK WITH THEIR AP TEACHER(S) BEFORE REGISTERING FOR THIS SERVICE. SOME AP TEACHERS WILL USE THESE RESOURCES AS A PART OF THE REGULAR CLASSROOM ASSIGNMENTS. IN THAT CASE, FOLLOW YOUR TEACHER’S SCHEDULE FOR REGISTERING AND REVIEWING.

Log on to www.flvs.net/students_parents/AP_exam_prep.php for registration and more resources. This is a free service!

You may contact Donnie Pridgen, AP Coordinator, at pridgend@mail.okaloosa.k12.fl.us
or 850.833.4114 x2380

NHS Awards