Advanced Placement Program

East Lyme High School is proud to participate in the College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) Program, a program that offers students the opportunity to complete college-level studies during high school. The primary goals of the AP program are to strengthen the secondary experience of studentswhoare ready for college-level work and to provide administrative support for granting credit or placement tothose studentsin their freshman year of college.

East Lyme High School encourages students to challenge their expectations in all academic areas. Advanced Placement courses are a tangible way for students to meet their higher educational goals. Advanced Placement courses are student self-selected. While teachers will recommend students for these courses, the final decision remains with students and their parents provided the student has passedprerequisites for the course. A nonrecommended course requires an override form.

The College Board maintains that the full experience includes the AP exam in each course. To meet that standard, East Lyme High School will award AP credit only to students completing the course and the AP exam. The cost of the exam is the student’s responsibility. A contract outlining the AP policy and costs, signed by thestudent and parent, will be sent home prior to thestart of the course.

Students should expect summer readings prior to the start of an AP course. East Lyme High School believes that the level of commitment to AP demandsa tremendous amount of work from students. In order to keep the best interests of the students’ paramount, it is the usual policy that students should not take more than three AP courses in one academic year, with a max of four AP courses. For more than four AP courses in one-year, principal permission is required.

It should also be noted that the AP program benefits extend far beyond the direct outcomes of the primary goals. In giving students an opportunity to experience the academic rigors of college, AP inspires confidence,a sense of responsibility and self-reliance, and provides an academic bridge to ease the transition from secondary school to college. During the 2021-2022 school year, the following Advanced Placement courses were offered:

American Government Biology Environmental Science French Language & Culture

Calculus AB/BC

Language & Composition Chemistry Literature & Composition

Computer Science Mobile Computer Science Music Theory Physics 1 & 2

Studio Art U.S. History Psychology World History

Spanish Language & Culture Statistics

Studentswhodropan AP course will not be allowed totake theAP exam in that subject area. A revised copy of the grade 12 transcript and accompanying letter will be sent to their prospective colleges. Dropping the class afterOctober 1 may result in a WF. Waiving theWF requires teacher and administrative approval; the schedule change form must be completed and signed.