AP & College Credit
Advanced Placement
Advanced placement (AP) is a program of college-level courses and exams that give motivated students the opportunity to earn credit for college while they are still in high school. There are many benefits for students who take AP courses. These include the chance to study new and challenging subjects. Students can discover new interests and get a jump start on their college career.
Most AP courses are yearlong and provide more intense and rigorous study than other courses at Kennedy. Because of this, all AP courses carry weighted grades. This means that an A in an AP course is worth more points than an A in a regular class. This can help raise a student’s overall GPA.
Why take AP courses?
AP allows high school students to take courses that are challenging, rigorous, and in-depth—exactly the kinds of courses they will face once they are in college. By earning credit from their AP courses, students may then have more flexibility. They can pursue a double major, study or travel abroad, or combine a bachelor’s and master’s program. AP classes also provide the groundwork for the disciplines they will need to succeed at the college level.
More than 90% of colleges and universities grant exemptions from introductory courses to students who have successfully completed an AP program. Students can be granted up to a full year of credit by a college or university upon completion of a number of AP programs. This means a student could actually start college with sophomore standing.
Advanced placement (AP) is a program of college-level courses and exams that give motivated students the opportunity to earn credit for college while they are still in high school. There are many benefits for students who take AP courses. These include the chance to study new and challenging subjects. Students can discover new interests and get a jump start on their college career.
Most AP courses are yearlong and provide more intense and rigorous study than other courses at Kennedy. Because of this, all AP courses carry weighted grades. This means that an A in an AP course is worth more points than an A in a regular class. This can help raise a student’s overall GPA.
| Grade | Weight |
|---|---|
| A | 5.00 |
| A- | 4.67 |
| B+ | 4.33 |
| B | 4.00 |
| B- | 3.67 |
| C+ | 3.33 |
| C | 3.00 |
| C- | 2.67 |
| D+ | 2.33 |
| D | 2.00 |
| D- | 1.67 |
| F | 0.00 |
The nationally coordinated exams are given over a two-week period in May. If students score a 3 or higher on the exam, they may be exempt from taking the course in college. Although requirements vary from college to college, most colleges accept grades of 3 or higher.
Test Registration
Planning to take AP tests?
Registration for the spring AP tests happens in the fall of each year. Pay attention to the daily announcements to hear when registration opens/closes. Each test is $99, which includes a $40 NON-REFUNDABLE FEE. Registration must be done online at https://aptsusa.com/crcsd/
Students on Free/Reduced Lunch may qualify for a waiver of fees. The permission page on Infinite Campus must be filled out, a Free/Reduced Lunch application must be submitted, and students must register online for the test.
If paying for the exam would create a financial burden, please contact Mrs. Richey.
AP Honors
Students meeting criteria for the AP scholar series receive special recognition once the College Board publishes the official lists.
AP Scholar
AP Scholar with Honor
AP Scholar with Distinction
AP Capstone/Seminar and Research
Key Contact
College Credit
Earning College Credit in High School
Cedar Rapids Community School District (CRCSD) high school students have many opportunities to earn college credit while in high school, through Kirkwood Career Academies, dual credit courses in their high school or by enrolling part-time at Kirkwood in college-level courses.
Dual credit
High school students are eligible to enroll in college-level courses through Kirkwood’s dual credit program. Credit earned through this program counts towards your high school diploma and future college degree. This program is free for high school students and most courses can be taken at students’ high school or at Kirkwood’s Main Campus or even online. Certain college credit in high school programs have different qualifications that must be met – such as age, prerequisite courses and minimum performance measures on placement testing. To find out more, students should meet with their high school counselor to explore options. Learn more about earning dual credit.
Kirkwood Career Academies
One of the most popular ways students can earn free college credit is through the Career Academy programs. In Cedar Rapids, we’re fortunate to offer these options at the Linn Regional Center in Hiawatha, just a short commute from either of the comprehensive high schools. This program is geared toward juniors and seniors and is a packaged sequence of courses focused around specific careers or areas of interest.
- Programs include:
- Advanced Manufacturing and Welding
- Allied Health
- Application Software and Development
- Architecture, Construction and Engineering (ACE)
- Arts & Sciences
- Automotive Technology
- Business
- Criminal Justice and Human Services (Social Work)
- Dental
- Digital/Visual Arts, Social Media Marketing
- Education
- Patient Care Exploration
- Pre-Med, Nursing and Professional Health Careers
- Pre-Nursing with Nurse Aid Certification