Advanced Placement/Honors Program

The Advanced Placement Program (AP) provides high school students with the opportunity to earn college credits while enrolled in high school.

Founded in 1955 by the College Board (the same group that brings you the SAT), college professors and high school teachers worked together to create and develop high school courses with college-level curricula and assessments. College credit could be earned by high school students if they passed a national test given in early May.

Sixty years ago tests were offered in 11 subjects. Today, the College Board sponsors 35 courses in 19 disciplines. The benefits of the AP program go far beyond a student receiving college credit. It dramatically improves reading, writing and higher-order critical thinking skills and better prepares students for the rigors and requirements of college-level courses.

Furthermore, it enhances a high school student’s chances of being accepted at top colleges and universities and dramatically increases their ability to earn a college degree within four years and/or an advanced degree.

Currently San Joaquin Memorial High School offers 17 AP courses.

• Biology
• Calculus AB
• Calculus BC
• Chemistry
• European History
• English Language & Composition
• English Literature & Composition
• Macroeconomics
• Microeconomics
• Psychology
• Research 
• Seminar 
• Spanish Language & Culture
• Statistics
• Studio Art: 2D Design
• United States Government & Politics
• United States History

AP Central Resource Site:

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com

Honors Courses

San Joaquin Memorial also offers a range of honors courses in mathematics, English and science:

• Algebra 2 HP
• Geometry HP
• Trigonometry/Calculus HP
• Chemistry HP
• English 9 HP
• English 10 HP

Grading

An extra grade point is awarded to students who achieve a grade of C or better in all college courses, AP courses and for some of the honors courses, according to the following scale:

A = 5 grade points
B = 4 grade points
C = 3 grade points

Technology

San Joaquin Memorial is committed to a 21st century learning environment to meet future college readiness requirements and workplace demands. As such, the campus has the technology infrastructure, hardware inventory, educational software, program subscriptions and professional training to support such an environment.
 

The SJM digital-age learning approach includes:

• Wireless campus
• 1:1 tablet learning environment
• Interactive boards and remote printing
• PowerSchool Student Information System
• Schoolreach Parent Notification System
• Remind 101 one-way texting
• Naviance Student
• Google Classroom