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Advanced Placement Overview

What is Advanced Placement?

Advanced Placement provides high school students with access to college-level curricula and examinations. Students earning a three or higher (five-point scale) on the AP examination have the potential of earning college credit and placement. Colleges and universities in the University of North Carolina System award credit to students who earn a three or higher on Advanced Placement exams.

Students enrolled in AP Courses:

  • Get familiar with college-level work
  • Enter college more confident in their ability to succeed at collegiate level work
  • Develop college skills such as time management, critical thinking, and scholarly writing
  • Discover their passion
  • Develop new insights and interests in careers from studying a subject in depth
  • Earn an additional quality point to their GPA

AP Credit Policy by College/University

AP Exam Dates - 2026

AP Courses:

  • Biology
  • Calculus AB/BC
  • Computer Science Principles
  • English Language and Composition
  • English Literature and Composition
  • Environmental Science
  • Human Geography
  • Psychology
  • Statistics
  • United States History
  • Arts: Art History, 2-D Art and Design, 3-D Art and Design, Drawing, Music Theory
  • Sciences: Physics 1, Algebra-Based, Physics 2, Algebra-Based, Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism, Physics C: Mechanics, Chemistry, Physics

  • World Languages: Chinese Language, French Language, German, Language, Japanese Language, Spanish Language, Spanish Literature and Culture

  • Social Studies/History: African American Studies, European, History, Government and Politics: Comparative, Government and Politics: United States, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, World History

  • Math & Computer Science Principles: Computer Science A, Precalculus

  • Interdisciplinary: Seminar, Research, Capstone

Benefits of AP
Students should consider taking AP courses to enhance their critical thinking skills, challenge themselves academically, build their skill sets in anticipation of the rigor of additional coursework after high school, and potentially earn college credit before enrolling in postsecondary education.

To learn more about the Advanced Placement Program, click on the links below:

Advanced Placement Exam Schedule

Helpful Resource Links

A .pdf of the Advanced Placement Overview