Students explore AP classes offered

Across the country, high school students are preparing their future selves by taking college-level courses through CollegeBoard’s AP classes. During the Nov. 8 AP Potential student lunch-n-learn in the LRC, OH students had an opportunity to explore the AP classes offered for next year.

This event, in coordination with November’s course selection for 2024-2025 courses, supported students’ decision-making.

Exceptional performance in AP classes may exempt students from introductory college courses, saving them both time and money.  “I would suggest taking one [AP class] outside of your major because you could get credit for it and not have to take an introductory course in college,” says Pamela Phelps, AP Biology teacher at OH. 

Students planning to stay in Illinois for college can receive a guaranteed benefit thanks to Illinois House Bill 3428: any student who scores a three or above on an AP test must receive college credit from public colleges in Illinois. 

Choosing between the 36 AP courses offered by OH can be daunting, especially since there is a diverse spread of courses across so many subject areas. However, once the classes are broken down into brief descriptions, they can seem far less intimidating. 

AP Capstone 

AP Capstone is not one class, but two: AP Seminar, then AP Research. To receive an AP Capstone certificate, students must score a three or above on their yearly AP test for both courses. If students also score highly on four extra AP exams throughout their enrollment in the classes, they receive an AP Capstone diploma. 

This innovative program has students collaborating as they research and develop innovative solutions to modern problems. This is a great option for any student who does not know which AP courses they should take but still wants to challenge themself as a student. 

English 

OH offers AP Language and Composition, which can be taken by students who have completed English 3. It develops students’ writing skills and teaches them to deeply analyze literary works. 

After AP Language and Composition is completed, students are eligible to take AP English Literature and Composition. The course further develops past skills as students read and analyze literature at a quicker pace. 

History 

AP Human Geography is a great beginning course that is open to incoming freshmen, but that does not mean it is less rigorous than other AP classes. Students will be expected to read and write a significant amount so that they can deeply understand the concepts they encounter. 

Typically, freshmen who took AP Human Geography will continue their AP History journey with AP European History or AP World History. AP World History is better for students who are searching for a broader knowledge of the world and different cultures. 

After AP World or European History, juniors tend to take AP United States History because it satisfies their US history credit required for graduation. This class is great for students who have taken another AP History course because of the similar instruction pace and workload. 

Most of the time, seniors will take AP United States Government and Politics to satisfy their graduation requirement of taking civics. Any student considering political science would benefit from also taking AP Comparative Government and Politics, which delves deeper into how different governments function. Both courses are great options for students 

Social Sciences 

AP Psychology is a great course for anyone interested in how the mind works. This class gives crucial knowledge to students planning to pursue careers in mental health and law. 

AP Macroeconomics is a semester-long course that gives students an understanding of economic principles and how to apply them to the world. AP Microeconomics, on the other hand, takes the whole year to ensure students completely understand how economic principles apply to the functions of individuals, both consumers and producers, within the economic system. 

Math 

AP Pre-Calculus is a newly offered course. Students who want to take AP Calculus should take this course to prepare for the pace of their potential future AP Math classes. However, this is also a great course for students looking to get college credit in high school. 

“Take the AP test if you are not taking calculus, because it will help your chances of being accepted to colleges,” says Kathryn Belke, AP Pre-Calculus teacher at OH. 

Collegeboard offers two AP Calculus courses. Choosing which to take depends solely on the pace a student prefers. AP Calculus AB is slower, covering Calculus 1 throughout the entire year. AP Calculus BC is a lot quicker, covering Calculus 1 in the first semester and Calculus 2 in the second semester. 

AP Statistics is an overall great class that can help students no matter what their plans after high school entail. This class is helpful in careers like business and management, but it also helps students apply math to real-life situations. 

Sciences 

AP Physics 1 introduces students to basic physics concepts as they relate to algebra and AP Physics 2 further discusses these concepts and applies them in many different situations. These two classes are great for developing a basic understanding of physics and are a great option for any students looking to lessen their courseload during college. 

To take either AP Physics C course, students must have already taken or actively be taking calculus. AP Physics C: Mechanics begins introducing students to physics concepts as they relate to calculus, while AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism applies calculus and physics to specific real-world concepts. 

OH also offers AP Biology and AP Chemistry, which can help students looking to enter any medical field, most scientific fields, and numerous engineering fields. 

AP Environmental Science is great for anyone who wants to learn more about how humans affect the different environments around the world. 

Computer Science 

AP Computer Science Principles and AP Computer Science A are both great classes for any student interested in software engineering, computer science, or computer programming. Computer Science Principles focuses on possible career paths and teaches students coding basics through Python. Computer Science A, on the other hand, provides students with an in-depth understanding of the Java programming language. 

Arts 

AP Music Theory is a great course for any student interested in pursuing music. Most band students are recommended to take the course to further develop their knowledge about creating music. 

OH students looking to create art have a wide variety of classes to choose from, including AP 2-D Art and Design, AP 3-D Art and Design, and AP Drawing. Each class will create a set number of projects throughout the year, creating a professional portfolio after all projects have been completed. Each month, students will broaden their knowledge about art as they learn about different artists, art styles, and mediums. 

If students want to delve deeper into how art changed over time, they should take AP Art History. In this course, students will familiarize themselves with works and artists across many art periods and movements. 

World Languages 

OH allows students to learn different languages, offering a sequence of classes for each language. Each language program ends with an AP course, so OH students have the chance to take the following courses: AP Chinese Language and Culture, AP French Language and Culture, AP German Language and Culture, and AP Spanish Language and Culture. 

Fluent Spanish speakers may take AP Spanish Literature and Culture. In this course, students read and analyze influential Spanish literature, similar to how students in AP Literature and Composition analyze English literature. 

To reap the benefits of an AP course, students do not have to score high on, or even take an AP test. Any student enrolled in an AP class will gain the experience of managing a college-level workload, which may help them when applying to colleges and universities. 

For more information about AP classes, visit exploreap.org. For help specific to OH, students can schedule an appointment with their counselor, or visit OHS College and Career Center.