Advanced Placement Courses

The Advanced Placement (AP) program plays an integral role in the curriculum of St. Rita High School. As a college preparatory school, St. Rita offers AP courses as its highest and most challenging academic experience. These are truly college-level courses, and as a result, many colleges and universities offer placement or credit based on students’ scores on the AP exams. St. Rita recognizes the advanced nature of these courses with a weighted GPA calculation.

St. Rita currently offers the following AP courses:

  • Biology

  • Calculus AB

  • Chemistry

  • Computer Science Principles

  • English Language and Composition

  • English Literature and Composition

  • European History

  • Human Geography

  • Precalculus

  • Psychology

  • Spanish Language

  • Statistics

  • Studio Art Drawing, 2D Art and 3D Art

  • United States Government and Politics

  • United States History

  • World History

Note: Not all AP courses may be offered every year.

Criteria for assigning college placement or credit may vary from course to course and from college to college. The College Board provides an index of these policies on their website. However, whether or not a student earns college credit for an AP course, the true value of the AP experience lies in the college-level skills and content the student learns. Thus, it is important to note that a student’s grade in an AP course reflects his performance in the course itself (exams, essays, labs, assignments, etc.) and is distinct from the AP exam score.

Admission to AP courses at St. Rita is based on teacher recommendations and grades in previous classes.

By enrolling in the AP program, a student acknowledges its rigorous nature and agrees to give his best effort to succeed in it – both in class and on the AP exam. AP courses at St. Rita are included in the school’s overall policy for schedule changes, which can be made only within the first 10 days of class (or a period of time determined by the Administration). The principal may approve or may not approve any schedule that includes multiple AP courses in the same year. All students enrolled in an AP course are highly encouraged to take the AP exam.

More information about the AP program is available here.

Information Provided by the College Board

AP is a rigorous academic program built on the commitment, passion, and hard work of students and educators from both secondary schools and higher education. With more than 30 courses in a wide variety of subject areas, AP provides willing and academically prepared high school students with the opportunity to study and learn at the college level.

Through AP courses, talented and dedicated AP teachers help students develop and apply the skills, abilities, and content knowledge they will need later in college. Each AP course is modeled upon a comparable college course, and college and university faculty play a vital role in ensuring that AP courses align with college-level standards. For example, through the AP Course Audit, AP teachers submit their syllabi for review and approval by the college faculty. Only courses using syllabi that meet or exceed the college-level curricular and resource requirements for each AP course are authorized to carry the “AP” label.

AP courses culminate in a suite of college-level assessments developed and scored by college and university faculty as well as experienced AP teachers. AP exams are an essential part of the AP experience, enabling students to demonstrate their mastery of college-level work. Strong performance on AP exams is rewarded by colleges and universities worldwide. More than 90% of four-year colleges and universities in the United States grant students credit, placement or both on the basis of successful AP exam scores. But performing well on an AP exam means more than just the successful completion of a course; it is the gateway to success in college. Research consistently shows that students who score a 3 or higher typically experience greater academic success in college and improved graduation rates than their non-AP student peers.

AP Exam Scores

The Readers’ scores on the free-response questions are combined with the results of the computer-scored multiple-choice questions; the weighted raw scores are summed to give a composite score. The composite score is then converted to a score on AP’s 5-point scale. While colleges and universities are responsible for setting their own credit and placement policies, AP scores signify how qualified students are to receive college credit or placement.

AP Score
5 = Extremely well qualified
4 = Well qualified
3 = Qualified
2 = Possibly qualified
1 = No recommendation

AP exam scores of 5 are equivalent to A grades in the corresponding college course. AP exam scores of 4 are equivalent to grades of A-, B+, and B in college. AP exam scores of 3 are equivalent to grades of B-, C+, and C in college.