Advanced Placement Program

Benefits of AP Classes

• College Prep: Enduring and succeeding in AP classes at St. Michael’s gives students a strong dose of college-level curriculum and eases the transition from high school senior to first-year college student in a way that is difficult to replicate in any other academic setting.
• Distinguish Yourself: AP classes show college admissions officers that you’re ready for college-level work and have already demonstrated that you are up for the challenge.
• Get College Credit. A student that enters college with 6 or 9 AP credits under their belt immediately kicks their college graduation requirement down to say, 119 (128 credits to graduate – 9 AP credits = 119 needed to graduate). Every college has its own policy about whether they accept AP scores or not.
• It’s Time To Shine. AP curriculum gives students a chance to study not only what they love, but what they are good at studying. There are 38 AP subjects to choose from, ranging from Japanese to Computer Science, Chemistry, or AP Literature. 

AP exam scores are reported on a scale of 1 – 5. Many colleges and universities grant credit and placement for scores of 3, 4, or 5 with a score of 3 being “qualified”, 4 being “well qualified”, and 5 being “extremely well qualified”.  

Although AP exams are not required nation-wide, At St. Michael's, we do. Students who take AP classes must take the AP exam at the end of the third trimester.