Vision WINTER 2013 CJ STEMM Center to Open in August

institutionCJ Currently Offers 12 CoursesAP 101 — Preparing for College SuccessIn 1955, the College Board first adoptedthe Advanced Placement (AP)program and began its work to encouragestudents to do college-level workwhile still in high school. Since then,AP Exams and curriculum have beenused as important indicators for collegereadiness.In 2012, more than 2 million studentstook roughly 3.7 million AP Exams inhopes of scoring a 3 (on a scale of 1-5)or higher — the mark at which researchshows can best predict college successand degree completion. The mark is alsowidely regarded as the make-or-breakpoint for the awarding of college credit.“When most people think of AdvancedPlacement classes, they think about theopportunity for students to gain collegeadmissions preference, or earn collegecredit for classes taken in high school,”said Steve Fuchs, director of the academicoffice.During the course of their high schoolcareers, 85 members of the Class of 2012took 289 AP exams across 15 subjectareas. Students become eligible to receivecollege credit after scoring 3 or higher onat least one AP Exam. Fuchs, however,feels it isn’t just about scoring well on thetests, but more about experiencing therigors of a college learning environment,that can prove advantageous for students.“I believe the most important benefit isthe ‘learning lessons’ these classes provide.AP students are challenged bythe curriculum to expand their thinking,explain and support their thoughts,question ideas, research solutions toproblems, develop reasoning skills andanalyze ideas critically,” Fuchs said.Today, CJ sophomores, juniors andseniors fill 216 seats in eight of theschool’s AP offerings, which span subjectareas such as art, science and math,social studies and history, and Englishand language arts. Many students takemultiple AP courses during their highschool career.one of the best ways to do that,” saidBruggeman, who will enroll at theUniversity of Notre Dame to studybiomedical engineering or biology androw with the crew team.“Students enrolled in AP classes learn to be organized, to prioritizeand come to understand the demands of college-level work.”—STEVE FUCHS, DIRECTOR OF THE ACADEMIC OFFICE“Students enrolled in AP classes learn tobe organized, to prioritize and come tounderstand the demands of college-levelwork. By becoming familiar with college-levelwork expectations while still inhigh school, students will be more preparedfor success in college,” Fuchs said.Three-year AP students and seniorsClare Geraghty and GretchenBruggeman will have taken a combined11 AP Exams by graduation, but thatwasn’t their motivation for signing upfor the courses.“I’ve been taught to always challengemyself in school and AP classes areAP Statistics• 36.6% of the Class of 2012earned a 3 or higher on atleast one AP Exam.• In 2012, 37% of the nonfreshmanstudent body tookat least one AP course.• More than 90% of collegeand university candidatesearn credit and/or advancedplacement when the APresults are consideredacceptable.Her Eagles crew teammate Geraghty,also interested in majoring in a sciencesfield at Notre Dame among otheruniversities, agreed the challengespresented by the AP program at CJhave better prepared her to successfullyacclimate to college.“It’s been beneficial to be in that settingand to know how a college class feels,”Geraghty said.The girls will each take their final threeAP Exams when the 2013 tests are administeredduring the first and secondfull weeks in May. VWINTER 2013 4