Advanced Placement Courses

What are AP courses?

AP is short for Advanced Placement courses. AP courses allow students to pursue college-level studies while still in high school. In more than 30 rigorous courses, each culminating in a rigorous exam, AP courses provide willing academically prepared students with the opportunity to earn college credit and/or advanced placement.

AP Courses at Spring Valley High School

AP Courses and Exams Offered on-site at SVHS
Grade 11 English Composition
US History
Grade 12 Calculus AB
Chemistry
AP Courses Offered Online at SVHS
  • Art History
  • Calculus BC
  • Computer Science A
  • English Literature
  • Environmental Science
  • European History
  • French Language and Culture
  • Human Geography
  • Latin
  • Macroeconomics
  • Microeconomics
  • Physics B
  • Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
  • Physics C: Mechanics
  • Psychology
  • Statistics
  • US Government and Politics
  • World History
Exam Scoring & Granting of College Credit or Advanced Program Placement

Each May, students take an AP Course Exam which will determine what (if any) college credits or advanced program placement they will receive.
The AP exam score is a weighted combination of the student’s scores on the multiple-choice section and the free-response sections. The final score is reported on a 5-point scale.*

  • 5 (pass) = Extremely well qualified
  • 4 (pass) = Well qualified
  • 3  (pass) = Qualified
  • 2 (not pass) = Possibly qualified
  • 1 (not pass) = No recommendation
*Colleges and universities are responsible for setting their own credit and placement policies.

For most AP subjects, results indicate:

AP Exam Score Grade equivalent in corresponding college course
5 A+ and A
4 A-, B+ and B
3 B-, C+, and C
SVHS AP Faculty
Jeff Chaffins Chemistry
Laurel Ferguson Calculus AB
Tina Hazlett English Language
Lori Murray US History
AP Coordinator
Sean Ferguson Administrative Contact

* Students and Parents need to pay all test fees at the beginning of the school year. Contact Mrs. Wiles for information on fee and waivers.

Important

Students who choose not to take the AP exam:

  • Lose AP course credit
  • Class will county ONLY as a general requirement
  • Letter Grades will not count as weighted
  • Students will take an end of course exam