Advanced Placement Program

PACA offers Advanced Placement courses to qualified students to enhance and expand their educational experience.  In 2021, our students took 98 Advanced Placement tests across 18 subjects, of which 85% scored a 3 or higher and the average passing rate was 4.04.  PACA regularly offers the following AP courses: English Language, English Literature, US History, Chemistry, Biology and Calculus. For more information about our AP courses and testing schedule, please contact Rachel Buchanan, our AP Administrator.

There are thousands of colleges worldwide that will give credit or advanced placement for high scores on the AP exam. AP Exams and courses offer a student a chance to:  
•    Know their capabilities. 
•    Gain a clearer idea of your future plans. 
•    Develop skills and study habits vital to college. 
•    Improve admission eligibility. 
•    Save money. 
•    Get a head start on college. 
•    Become eligible for Scholar Awards.

The Program
The Advanced Placement Program® (http://apcentral.collegeboard.com) is a cooperative educational endeavor between secondary schools – like PACA - and colleges and universities. Since its inception in 1955, the Program has provided motivated high school students with the opportunity to take college-level courses in a high school setting. Students who participate in the Program not only gain college-level skills, but in many cases they also earn college credit while they are still in high school. AP courses are taught by dedicated and enthusiastic high school teachers who follow course guidelines developed and published by the College Board. 

The Program's success is rooted in the collaborative efforts of motivated students, dedicated teachers, and committed schools. By participating in the Program, secondary schools make the commitment to organize and support at least one class that is equivalent to a first-year college course. 

There are currently more than 110,000 teachers leading AP courses in high schools worldwide. AP teachers are some of the world's finest. The Program is strengthened by their participation in professional development workshops and Summer Institutes and in the annual AP Reading where thousands of AP teachers and college faculty gather at college sites across the United States to score the AP Exams using rigorous guidelines.