AP Classes

Taking AP courses enables students to pursue college-level studies while still in high school. Gainesville High School offers more than 20 courses, each culminating in a rigorous exam.  In addition, AP provides willing and academically prepared students with the opportunity to earn college credit and/or advanced placement. Taking AP courses also demonstrates to college admission officers that students have sought out the most rigorous coursework available to them.

ap exam schedule

AP offers students the opportunity to take college-level courses and exams in high school, with the potential to earn college credit and/or advanced placement in courses,  at many colleges and universities in the Us and around the world. The AP Exams administered in May are standardized exams designed to measure how well students have mastered the content and skills of a specific AP course. AP exams are either digital and paper-and-pencil exam, but a few courses have different ways to assess what you’ve learned—for example, AP Art and Design students submit a portfolio of work for scoring.

The Gainesville City School System values our AP program so much that they have made the decision to cover the cost of all exams. With that said, all students who are enrolled in an AP course are expected, in good faith, to take the exam in May.  A charge of $45 will be added to students’ Infinite Campus accounts and must be paid in full prior to graduation.

AP Student Agreement

Please read, sign and return the form to the AP teachers by August 23, 2024.

All student accommodations must be approved by College Board before receiving any PSAT, SAT, or AP testing accommodations.  Parents must sign and return the

 College Board Parent Consent Form.

 

What is AP?

Big Future-College and Career Planning

AP Student Account Support

AP Students-Get the Most Out of Your AP Classes

Parent Resources-Help your child get the most out of their AP classes

Benefits of an AP program

GHS Monthly Newsletter

Laura Henderson, AP Coordinator laura.henderson@gcssk12.net

Rebekah Price, Instructional Coach rebekah.price@gcssk12.net

Pharalynn Brown, AP Administrator pharalynn.brown@gcssk12.net

Nick Scheman, District Instructional Support nicholas.scheman@gcssk12.net

AP Calculus AB

The study of calculus includes an extensive use of practical applications from engineering, physical science, business, economics, and the life sciences. There will be strong emphasis on problem solving where there is more than one well-defined procedure for obtaining the answer. Students are expected to take the Advanced Placement Exam in May. *counts as graduation requirement

AP Calculus BC

The study of calculus includes an extensive use of practical applications from engineering, physical science, business, economics, and the life sciences. There will be strong emphasis on problem solving where there is more than one well-defined procedure for obtaining the answer. BC Calculus is an extension of AB Calculus rather than an enhancement. The overlapping topics are covered in similar depth. Students are expected to take the Advanced Placement Exam in May.

AP Statistics

AP Statistics involves the study of four main areas: exploratory analysis, planning a study, probability, and statistical inference. These areas of study are intended to give students a deeper understanding of statistical analysis. This course will concentrate on realistic examples and the problems that arise in them. Graphical displays will include boxplots, dotplots, stemplots, histograms, and bar charts. Students will develop the skills needed to effectively communicate statistical methods, results, and interpretations. Each unit covered is reflective of the standards provided by College Board. *counts as graduation requirement

AP Precalculus

In AP Precalculus, students explore everyday situations using mathematical tools and lenses. Through regular practice, students build deep mastery of modeling and functions, and they examine scenarios through multiple representations. They will learn how to observe, explore, and build mathematical meaning from dynamic systems, an important practice for thriving in an ever-changing world. 

AP Biology +

AP Biology is an introductory college-level biology course. Students cultivate their understanding of biology through inquiry-based investigations as they explore topics like evolution, energetics, information storage and transfer, and system interactions. *counts as graduation requirement

AP Chemistry +

Learn about the fundamental concepts of chemistry including structure and states of matter, intermolecular forces, and reactions. You’ll do hands-on lab investigations and use chemical calculations to solve problems. *counts as graduation requirement

AP Environmental Science +

Explore and investigate the interrelationships of the natural world and analyze environmental problems, both natural and human-made. You’ll take part in laboratory investigations and field work. *counts as graduation requirement

AP Physics +

AP Physics 1 is an algebra-based, introductory college-level physics course. Students cultivate their understanding of physics through classroom study, in-class activity, and hands-on, inquiry-based laboratory work as they explore concepts like systems, fields, force interactions, change, conservation, and waves. *counts as graduation requirement

 

AP Capstone Program

AP Capstone includes AP Seminar and AP research. Please click the link to learn about the whole program.

AP English Language and Composition

The course focuses on college level reading and writing intensive course. The course conforms to the College Board recommendations for the AP Language/Composition Exam; emphasizes critical thinking, reading, and writing through the study and discussion of argument, analysis, and synthesis; stresses the connection between reading and writing mature prose. Enrollment in AP includes the commitment to take the AP exam. *counts as graduation requirement

AP English Literature and Composition

The course focuses on college level reading and writing intensive course. It includes an intensive study of representative works from various literary genres and periods. The focus is on the complexity and thorough analysis of literary works. The students will explore the social and historical values that works reflect and embody. The textual detail and historical context provide the foundation for interpretation: the experience of literature, the interpretation of literature, and the evaluation of literature. Writing to evaluate a literary work involves making and explaining judgments about its artistry and exploring its underlying social and cultural values through analysis, interpretation, and argument (e.g. expository, analytical, and argumentative essays). The writers will develop stylistic maturity: strong vocabulary, sentence variety, and effective use of rhetoric to maintain voice. Enrollment in AP includes the commitment to take the AP exam. *counts as graduation requirement

 

AP Human Geography

This AP course introduces the student to the systematic study of patterns and processes that have shaped human understanding, use, and alteration of Earth’s surface. Students employ spatial concepts and landscape analysis to examine human social organizations and its environmental consequences. They also learn about the methods and tools geographers use in their science and practice. Enrollment in AP includes the commitment to take the AP exam. *Counts as academic elective not toward core graduation requirements.

AP World History

This college level course focuses on applying historical thinking skills as students learn world history from 8000 BCE to the present. Emphasizes the political, cultural, economic and social development and growth of civilizations, covers the emergence of nations through trade/communications, intellectual development, scientific/technological development, emergence of nation states, nations in conflict and the emerging interdependence of nations in the first and twenty first centuries. The course content is equivalent to that found in college level freshman and sophomore courses. This course fulfills the graduation requirement for World History. Enrollment in AP includes the commitment to take the AP exam. *Counts as graduation requirement

AP European History

Conforms to the College Board topics for the AP exam; covers intellectual and cultural history, political and diplomatic history and social and economic history. Enrollment in AP includes the commitment to take the AP exam.

AP United States History

This advanced course includes the College Board topics for the Advanced Placement U. S. History Exam. Students will focus on applying historical thinking skills as they learn about U.S. history from approximately 1491 to the present. The course content is equivalent to that found in freshman and level college courses. It includes discovery and settlement, Colonial Society, American Revolution, Constitution and the New Republic, Age of Jefferson, Nationalism, Sectionalism, Territorial Expansion, Civil War, Reconstruction, Industrialization, Progressive Era, World War I, Depression, New Deal, Word War II, and the Cold War. Enrollment in AP includes the commitment to take the AP exam. *counts as graduation requirement

AP United States Government & Politics

Conforms to the College Board topics for the AP exam; includes federalism, separation of powers, influences on the formulation and adoption of the Constitution, political beliefs, political parties and elections, interest groups, institutions and policy processes and civil liberties and civil rights. Outside reading, essay writing, and document based questions are a strong focus to understand the content. Enrollment in AP includes the commitment to take the AP exam. *counts as graduation requirement

AP Macroeconomics

This advanced course includes College Board topics for the Advanced Placement Macroeconomics exam. The emphasis is on macroeconomics, but the course also includes microeconomic, international, and personal finance components. The course is equivalent to what is offered at a freshman or sophomore level in college. Enrollment in AP includes the commitment to take the AP exam. *counts as graduation requirement

AP Psychology

AP Psychology is an introductory college-level psychology course. Students cultivate their understanding of the systematic and scientific study of human behavior and mental processes through inquiry-based investigations as they explore concepts like the biological bases of behavior, sensation and perception, learning and cognition, motivation, developmental psychology, testing and individual differences, treatment of abnormal behavior, and social psychology. *counts as academic elective not graduation requirement

AP Computer Science Principles +

AP Computer Science Principles is an introductory college-level computing course. Students cultivate their understanding of computer science through working with data, collaborating to solve problems, and developing computer programs as they explore concepts like creativity, abstraction, data and information, algorithms, programming, the internet, and the global impact of computing.

AP Computer Science A +

AP Computer Science A is an introductory college-level computer science course. Students cultivate their understanding of coding through analyzing, writing, and testing code as they explore concepts like modularity, variables, and control structures.

*AP CSP and AP CSA can count as foreign language requirements, science, and CTAE credits. See you counselor for details.

 

AP SPANISH LANGUAGE AND CULTURE

AP Spanish Language and Culture is equivalent to an intermediate level college course in Spanish. Students cultivate their understanding of Spanish language and culture by applying interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational modes of communication in real-life situations as they explore concepts related to family and communities, personal and public identities, beauty and aesthetics, science and technology, contemporary life, and global challenges.

AP SPANISH LITERATURE AND CULTURE

AP Spanish Literature is equivalent to a college level introductory survey course of literature written in Spanish. Students continue to develop their interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational skills in Spanish language as well as critical reading and analytical writing as they explore short stories, novels, plays, essays, and poetry from Spain, Latin America, and U.S. Hispanic authors along with other non-required texts.