ACADEMIC ADVISING AT BUCKLEY WEIGHTED COURSES
Students enrolled in AP courses, with the exception of seniors, must sit for AP examinations in May. There is a fee charged by the College Board for taking these exams. Families are billed through the business office so that financial aid can be allocated if applicable. Please note: Any student in an AP course must determine if they want to take the corresponding AP exam by November. Cancellation or late registration will result in a $40 fee incurred by the family (in addition to the exam cost).
Buckley limits students’ enrollment in weighted courses (Advanced Placement or honors) due to the increased demands of such classes. In accordance with our mission, we expect our students to dedicate time to their academic courses, to their arts and physical education obligations, and to be meaningfully involved in various activities on and off campus. This message is found in our literature and supported by our Four Fold Plan. Eligible grade 9 students may take up to two AP and/or honors courses. In subsequent years, the limit is based on whether students have prior experience with AP and/or honors courses. Exceptions are approved by the academic deans.
Placement in AP courses is determined by previous grades, prior enrollment in weighted courses and performance in any relevant courses, completion of required prerequisites (as applicable), overall course load, and recommendations from a student’s current teachers and relevant department chair(s). Because these are college-level courses and the work can be more challenging and time-consuming than unweighted courses, enrollment in AP courses is carefully considered. Students may need to devote significantly more time to AP courses to achieve the same grades they received in non-AP classes and must adhere to policies set forth in the AP contract. Dropping from an AP to a non-AP course may be done with the permission of the department chair and the academic dean prior to the midpoint of the first semester. A drop after the midpoint will result in a withdrawal indicated on the student’s transcript. The grades the student has accumulated in the initial course will carry over to the subsequent class
HONORS COURSES The Upper School offers honors courses in some English, science, math, and upper level world languages courses. Placement in honors courses is usually determined by a combination of previous grades and course performance, overall course load, placement tests, and recommendations from a student’s current teachers and relevant department chair(s). Because the work in these courses can be more challenging and time-consuming than in unweighted courses, enrollment in honors courses is carefully considered. Dropping from an honors course to a non-honors course may be done with the permission of the department chair and the academic dean prior to the midpoint of the first semester. A drop after the midpoint will result in a withdrawal indicated on the student’s transcript.
Course placement questions should be directed to the respective department chair.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT PROGRAM The Upper School offers a variety of Advanced Placement (AP) courses. While offerings may change from year to year based on enrollment and staffing, and may rotate regularly to ensure we can offer more courses, they usually include: Art History, Biology, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Chemistry, Chinese Language, Computer Science A, English Language & Composition, English Literature & Composition, Environmental Science, European History, French Language, Latin, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Music Theory, Physics C, Psychology, Spanish Language, Statistics, Studio Art, U.S. Government & Politics, and U.S. History.
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