brunswick high school

Brunswick High School

APEX Scholars Program

(Advanced Placement Experience)

What is APEX?

• APEX is an Advanced Placement program offering a rigorous, comprehensive, four-year curriculum

• APEX combines Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) Courses

APEX AT BHS

• Now in 4th year at BHS

• May 2010 first APEX graduates

• Current APEX enrollment is 95 students

Why APEX at BHS? What are the benefits to our students?

• The School Improvement Team (SIT) goal for increasing student achievement includes increased numbers of students taking AP coursework and scores of “3” or higher on AP exams

• AP coursework prepares high school students for the challenges of college-level courses.

Why APEX at BHS? What are the benefits to our students?

• APEX Scholars are recognized by competitive colleges.

• APEX Scholars remain an integral part of the BHS community rather than transfer to another county school to access challenging academic programs.

Additional APEX Benefits

• Students are part of a learning community.• Support is provided by the Program

Coordinator.• Students are challenged to take more

rigorous courses.• Scholars are recognized at graduation and on

school transcripts.• College Board recognition as an AP Scholar

with Distinction—Average grade of 3.5 on all AP exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.

Number of AP Exams Taken

120

147138

149

133

180

280 282

256

234

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

# of Students

# of Tests

AP Test Scores > 3

101

121

141

115

134

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Scores 3, 4, or 5

Number of Tests & Scores > 3

180

280 282

256

234

101

121

141

115

134

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

# of Tests

Scores 3, 4, or 5

Percentage of Scores > 3

56.0%

43.6%

50.0%

44.9%

57.3%

0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

70.0%

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Percent

How does APEX benefit all BHS students?

• Students, their parents, and their teachers will have increased expectations for all students.

• BHS staff apply APEX teaching strategies/skills in all their classes.

• BHS students have more course options.

• BHS students will graduate optimally prepared for college, work, and life.

BHS APEX Requirements

• APEX participants are selected at the end of the 8th grade.

• APEX scholars must meet all state and FCPS graduation requirements.

• APEX scholars must complete a minimum of six AP courses and six AP exams to demonstrate content mastery.

BHS APEX Curriculum

• APEX preparatory courses (grades 9 and 10).• AP World History (year long) or AP

Environmental Science (Spring Semester) (Grade 10)

• English 11 Honors• Philosophy of Knowledge( grade 12)• AP Language and Composition and/or AP

Literature and Composition• A minimum of four self-selected AP courses

(science/math recommended)

APEX Freshman Year

• Pre-Course summer reading• English 9 Honors/APEX• Algebra-Based Physics Honors• Government Honors/APEX• Biology/Chemistry Honors (Spring -

Chemistry if taking AP Environmental 10th grade year)

APEX Sophomore Year

• Pre-Course summer reading• English 10 Honors/APEX• AP World History (year long) or AP

Environmental Science (Spring semester)• Biology/Chemistry honors (Fall)• One or two additional self-selected AP

courses (optional)

The BHS Junior Year of APEX

• Pre-Course summer reading• English 11 Honors (required)• AP English Language Composition

(Optional - Spring)• One or Two Additional Student-Selected AP

Courses (AP Math or Science course recommended)

The BHS Senior Year of APEX

• Pre-Course summer reading

• AP Language & Comp. and/or AP Literature & Comp. (Grade 12 English requirement)

• Philosophy of Knowledge

• Additional student-selected AP courses

The APEX Application Process

Program participants are selected at the end of 8th grade based on:

• student application

• teacher recommendation

• standardized testing

• writing sample and

• committee evaluation of student-submitted work

Current AP Courses Offered at BHS

• English – AP Language and Composition; AP Literature and Composition

• Foreign Language – Spanish Language; Possibilities for future –Spanish Literature, Latin Literature

• Mathematics – Calculus (AB and BC), Statistics

Current AP Courses Offered at BHS

• Science – Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Physics

• Social Studies – U.S. History, Psychology, World History

• Art – Possibilities for future--AP Art History and AP Studio Art

• Other courses can be taken as independent study

The Question Is…

Is the APEX program for you?