This document discusses West Potomac High School's advanced academic programs for the 2015-2016 school year. It defines honors and Advanced Placement (AP) courses, noting that honors courses prepare students for AP courses and both types of courses are college-level classes. It emphasizes the benefits of advanced courses for student learning and college acceptance, and outlines supports provided to students, including teacher collaboration, mentoring, and workshops on essential skills. The document stresses the importance of balance and playing to student strengths and interests when selecting courses.

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SUPPORT
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ENGAGED
LEARNING
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DEEPENED
COMMUNITY

2. ADVAN CE D ACADE MICS CUR R ICULUM P R E SE N TATIO N
What are Advanced Academic
Programs?
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 Rigorous academic studies
 Open access to all students
 Academic exploration and knowledge beyond the standard
course of study
 Require dedication of time and individual effort beyond the
school day
 College preparatory (Honors) and college-level (AP) courses
 Visit http://www.fcps.edu/is/aap/index.shtml

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4. ADVAN CE D ACADE MICS CUR R ICULUM P R E SE N TATIO N
Honors Courses
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 Honors courses are college preparatory courses
offered to either prepare students for AP Courses
or where a comparable AP course does not exist.
 Students who do well in Honors courses have a
foundation for doing well in AP and college
courses.

5. ADVAN CE D ACADE MICS CUR R ICULUM P R E SE N TATIO N
Advanced Placement (AP)
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 Advanced Placement Program® (AP®) courses are
college-level courses offered in high school. AP
courses reflect what is taught in top introductory
college courses
 At the end of course, students take AP Exams—
standardized exams that measure how well
students have mastered college-level course
work. (Some also have an SOL.)

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7. ADVAN CE D ACADE MICS CUR R ICULUM P R E SE N TATIO N
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 One of the most significant factors leading to success
in college is the rigor of the high school curriculum.
 Advanced academic courses expand a student’s
ability to read, write, and think critically; analyze and
solve problems; and build 21st century skills.
 Honors and AP courses can bolster a HS transcript
and improve college acceptance.
 Honors courses have a 0.5 and AP courses have a
1.0 (with completion of class and exam) weighted
grades which add to a student’s GPA.
 Many colleges grant credit for courses in which
students earn a qualifying score on AP
examinations.

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 Advanced Placement courses typically demand
more of students than on-level or honors courses.
 Classes tend to be faster-paced and cover more
content material .
 More time required, both inside and outside of
the classroom.
 A strong expectation for students to think
critically, analyze and synthesize facts and data,
weigh competing perspectives, and write clearly
and persuasively.

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11. ADVAN CE D ACADE MICS CUR R ICULUM P R E SE N TATIO N
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 West Potomac’s Strong CT Culture: Working collaboratively,
teachers can structure common activities, interventions, and
instruction based on analysis of assessments.
 Advanced Academics Mentoring Program: Underclassmen
students in advanced courses are invited to be mentored by
upperclassmen with experiences in taking similar courses,
providing advice on time management and study skills.
 First Quarter Skills Workshops: Students have the
opportunity to work with Advanced Academics and AVID
teachers on essential skills in an effort to start the school
year off on the right foot.
 WICOR Strategies: WICOR strategies stem from AVID
philosophy and are becoming a mainstay of West
Potomac instructional culture

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Most Important Support
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You! (Parents/Guardians)
Advanced Academics is for the PREPARED not
the ELITE
Rigor ≠ More work…BALANCE is key
Play to strengths and interest areas when
selecting courses

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14. ADVAN CE D ACADE MICS CUR R ICULUM P R E SE N TATIO N
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 All registration materials are located on the
WPHS website through the Student Services
office
http://www.fcps.edu/WestPotomacHS/student
services/studentservices.html
 Further information on Advanced Academic
Programs can be found on the FCPS website
http://www.fcps.edu/is/aap/index.shtml