Advanced Placement

Advanced Placement (AP) is the opportunity to earn college credit while taking high school courses. The CollegeBoard's Advanced Placement Program provides an opportunity for high school students to experience college level coursework. Each course is aligned to a subject-specific AP exam, which provides students the potential to earn college credit in that subject.

Advanced Placement courses are available for students in 9th - 12th grade.

• AP courses let you know what to expect during college, and help you build the confidence to succeed.
• Deciding to take an AP course lets colleges and universities know that you have what it takes to succeed in that environment. When admissions officers see "AP" on your transcript, they know that what you experienced in a particular class has prepared you well for the challenges of college. 
• Taking AP is a sign that you're up for the most rigorous classes your high school has to offer. An AP course builds the skills you'll need throughout your college years. You give your mind a rigorous workout while polishing up your time management and study skills.
• Research shows that students who take AP courses in high school are more likely to graduate from college within four years and have higher grade point averages in college than similar students who did not take AP courses (Hargrove and Dodd 2007).

Students are required to pay for the AP exam. Exams range in price from $53 - $136.

Each AP course is aligned to a subject specific AP exam, which provides students the potential to earn college credit in that subject. AP exams are given in May of each school year. The scores range from 1 to 5, 5 being the highest. It varies at universities on the score you need to attain credit but most schools will accept a 3, 4, or 5.

AP credits are accepted at most but not all colleges. It is the responsibility of the student to see if their credits transfer to the college of their choice. This information can be found on college websites by searching for "advanced placement." After you research whether or not your credits will transfer, see your counselor if you need additional assistance!

Here a few links to local colleges and universities:

• The University of Memphis: https://www.memphis.edu/admissions/pdfs/ap_table.pdf
• The University of Tennessee at Knoxville: https://admissions.utk.edu/prior-learning-credits/
• Mississippi State: http://www.catalog.msstate.edu/undergraduate/academicpolicies/creditsgradesandstanding/creditbyexamination/
• Ole Miss: https://catalog.olemiss.edu/academics/regulations/credit/by-exam
• Vanderbilt University: https://www.vanderbilt.edu/catalogs/kuali/undergraduate-22-23.php#/content/62631368cf7d155e005fab97

LPS currently offers the following AP courses:

• AP Computer Science Principles
• AP Environmental Science
• AP Human Geography
• AP World History

Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, LPS will also offer: 

• AP 2-D Art and Design
• AP Biology
• AP Chemistry
• AP Computer Science A
• AP English Language and Composition
• AP Music Theory
• AP PreCalculus
• AP Spanish Language and Culture
• AP Statistics
• AP US History

Learn more about AP at:

• https://www.tn.gov/education/students/early-postsecondary/advanced-placement.html
• https://ap.collegeboard.org/