Advanced Placement
Pope John Paul II Preparatory School offers its most capable students the opportunity to earn college credit by taking Advanced Placement (AP) classes in one of 21 subject areas. These courses simulate the expectations of introductory-level courses at the college level, and we recommend them for students eager to challenge themselves. AP courses follow a national curriculum, and all teachers at Pope Prep who teach in the AP program receive training in this curriculum. Therefore, they are highly regarded for their depth and quality.
National exams for each AP class are given in early May and graded between a 1 (lowest) or 5 (highest). Depending on the university and the subject itself, students receiving a 3 or higher may be given college credit in that subject matter, saving families significant tuition dollars. It is Pope Prep's policy that all students enrolled in AP classes take the exams.
AP offerings vary by year. Over time, Pope Prep has offered Advanced Placement courses in Spanish, French, Latin, Psychology, Statistics, Calculus AB and BC, European History, American History, World History, Macro-Economics, Micro-Economics, U.S. Government, 2D and 3D Art, Chemistry, Physics 1, Physics C, Biology, Computer Science, English Literature, English Language and WE: Project Based Service Learning. To enroll in these courses, students must meet specific pre-requisite requirements and receive the approval of the departmental chair in that discipline.
Pope Prep students do exceptionally well on the exams on the whole, and the number of students taking AP classes increases each year. See our outstanding results at the available links.
Why choose AP? (The College Board)
| Award | Criteria |
| AP Scholar | Granted to students who receive scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams. |
| AP Scholar with Honor | Granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams. |
| AP Scholar with Distinction | Granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. |
| State AP Scholar | Granted to the one male and one female student in each U.S. state and the District of Columbia with scores of 3 or higher on the greatest number of AP Exams, and then the highest average score (at least 3.5) on all AP Exams taken. |
| National AP Scholar | Granted to students in the United States who receive an average score of at least 4 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams. |