Honors & Advanced Placement (AP) Courses

Is there an open enrollment policy for honors and AP courses?

GCCISD has an open enrollment policy for both Honors and AP courses. Although there is recommended criteria for placement in an honors course, even if students don't meet the criteria and wish to accept the challenge they may be enrolled in a course. To enroll in an AP course, a student must simply have met the course pre-requisite requirements.

The College Board's Advanced Placement Program enables students to pursue college level studies while still in high school. The district provides motivated students a large variety of courses in many subject areas. Based on a student's performance on AP exams, students can earn college credit depending upon the college they attend.

Please contact your student's high school counselor to determine course availability on each high school campus.

What are AP courses like?

AP courses are introductory college courses, so they are not easy, but neither are they impossibly difficult. Compared with regular high school courses, the AP course will be more demanding. AP courses often require time outside of class and additional work but they offer a greater opportunity to master a subject and to explore it in greater depth. Students should realize that taking an AP course is a serious commitment to their studies. Teachers of the course have had extensive training in AP strategies and course preparation prior to teaching the course.

How much college credit does an AP score garner?

It is important to remember that each college decides how much credit to award for AP scores. Many institutions accept an AP exam score of 3 or above.

To find out what AP scores are considered acceptable by a college, contact the college's admissions office.

Performance Expectations for all AP Students

AP courses are designed to prepare students for the Advanced Placement exam in the spring.

1. All students enrolled in an Advanced Placement course must understand that the coursework will be more rigorous than regular and Honors level courses.
2. The content of AP courses is dictated by the College Board's requirements. The course is designed to be taught as though the student were in a college level course.