Advanced Placement (AP) Courses
ADVANCED PLACEMENT
North Shore offers specific Advanced Placement (AP) courses as a part of the regular curriculum in upper school. Students can earn college credit and advanced standing for the above AP courses by taking the AP exam in the late spring of each academic year. All students enrolled in an AP course must take the exam unless the teacher and department head give permission not to take the exam. If an AP student does not meet the AP course requirements or if an AP student is late or absent more than six classes in one semester, the student’s status in the AP class is to be reviewed by The Head of Upper School, the AP teacher, and the student’s advisor.
PHILOSOPHY OF AP (ADVANCED PLACEMENT)
North Shore participates in the National College Board Advanced Placement Program. AP courses are college-level courses taught by our faculty. At the end of each AP course, students are required to take the national AP exam for that course.
At NSCD, students are encouraged to take up to two AP courses in eleventh grade and three in twelfth grade to maintain a balanced course load. NSCD believes that the AP curriculum is essential to the upper school academic offerings. As a college preparatory institution, NSCD believes it is critical that 1) we offer a variety of AP courses and 2) many upper school students take advantage of these AP offerings. The College Board has officially approved all AP courses offered at NSCD following their course audit process, and each has its unique expectations and challenges. While the decision to enroll in an AP course is multi-faceted, the preliminary finding should be based on a student’s documented evidence of previous performance and commitment to engage in all aspects of the course thoroughly and comprehensively.
The AP courses offer a challenging and rigorous academic framework; therefore, entrance into these courses typically requires an application process. Students enrolled in an AP course should demonstrate the following:
The AP courses offer a challenging and rigorous academic framework; therefore, entrance into these courses typically requires an application process. Students enrolled in an AP course should demonstrate the following:
- intellectual maturity and intellectual curiosity
- the ability to work productively during class discussions and small group activities
- disciplined work habits/ strong work ethic
- the ability to work independently and self-assess
- mastery of prerequisite knowledge
- effective reading comprehension
- the ability to manage complex assignments and deadlines
- the ability to apply analytical thinking to questions and problems
Finally, AP courses demand a significant time commitment. In keeping with North Shore’s philosophy of student growth and development in academics, arts, and athletics, we believe students must consider their overall program when applying to AP courses. All AP enrollment is reviewed with particular attention given to the schedules of those students intending to enroll in two or more AP courses. Sometimes, a student may take three in eleventh and four in twelfth grade, but the administration must approve the request.
PARTICIPATING IN ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP) EXAMS AT NSCD
North Shore Country Day allows students to challenge themselves academically through the Advanced Placement (AP) program. Students can participate in this program in two ways:
ENROLL IN AN AP COURSE
ELIGIBILITY: Students must demonstrate intellectual maturity, strong work ethic, and mastery of prerequisite knowledge.
ENROLL IN AN AP COURSE
ELIGIBILITY: Students must demonstrate intellectual maturity, strong work ethic, and mastery of prerequisite knowledge.
PREPARATION: Students engage in rigorous coursework throughout the course, including class discussions, group activities, and independent work.
EXAM: Students are required to take the AP exam at the end of the course.
TRANSCRIPT IMPACT: Grades earned in AP courses are weighted. AP exam scores do not affect course grades or appear on the transcript.
SELF-STUDY (EXAM-ONLY)
SELF-STUDY (EXAM-ONLY)
ELIGIBILITY: Students must meet the prerequisites for the specific AP exam and demonstrate a strong academic foundation in the subject matter.
PREPARATION: Students are responsible for independent study, utilizing textbooks and online resources, and potentially seeking guidance from outside teachers or tutors. North Shore Country Day faculty do not provide academic support for NSCD students engaged in AP Self-Study.
EXAM: Students register for and take the AP exam at the designated time. The exam will be administered at NSCD and proctored by NSCD staff.
TRANSCRIPT IMPACT: Participation in exam-only AP exams will not be reflected on the student's transcript.
NOTE: Exam-only students will have limited access to AP Classroom resources. Please be aware that you won't be able to participate in teacher-assigned coursework. Please consult your college counselor to ask how taking AP exams (without enrolling in the full course) may affect your college applications.
RESOURCE LINKS
- 2024-25 Calendar for AP Students
- AP Exam Timing and Structure
- 2025 AP Exams: How Will They Work?
- Getting Credit and Placement
- About AP Scores
- Sending AP Scores
- AP Exam Fees
- AP Exam Policies and Guidelines
- AP Exam Accommodations
- What to Know About AP Exams
- AP Courses and Exams
- Join Your AP Class Section Online
- Sign in to Your College Board Account
General Information
REGISTRATION: All students are responsible for registering for AP exams through the College Board. Registration must be completed by students; NSCD faculty, college counselors, or administrators cannot register students for AP exams (College Board policy).
Students must complete their exam registration by the College Board's registration deadline.
EXAM FEES: Students are responsible for paying the associated AP exam fees. Once the final invoice is submitted, North Shore Country Day will bill each student for the amount they incur. This will likely be reflected in the student's June statement.
HIGH SCHOOL COURSE CREDIT Students who enroll in an AP course at NSCD and complete the associated AP exam will receive course credit on their high school transcript. Students who self-study for an AP exam will not receive credit for the course on their high school transcript.
COLLEGE COURSE CREDIT AP scores might be eligible to earn college credit. Use this tool to find colleges that offer credit or placement for AP scores.
SELF-STUDY AP EXAM REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS
1. EMAIL THE NSCD REGISTRAR: Email registrar@nscds.org with the subject line "Self-Study AP Exam Registration." In the email, clearly state your intention to register for a specific AP exam as a self-study student.
2. OBTAIN THE JOIN CODE: The school registrar will verify your eligibility and provide you with a unique "join code" for the exam.
3. CREATE OR ACCESS YOUR MYAP ACCOUNT: Head to the MyAP website and log in using your existing account. If you haven't used MyAP before, follow the on-screen instructions to create a new account.
4. ENTER THE JOIN CODE: Once logged in, look for a bright yellow button reading "Join a Course or Exam." Click on it. Enter the join code provided by the registrar and carefully review the displayed information. Make sure it matches your intended AP exam. Follow the prompts to verify the code and complete the registration process.
5. COMPLETE THE REGISTRATION INFORMATION (IF NECESSARY):
You will only need to fill out registration details (name, address, etc.) the first time you enroll in an AP exam through MyAP. This step is not required if you've previously registered for an AP exam or joined another class through a join code.
6. CONFIRMATION AND EXAM DETAILS: After successfully entering the join code and completing your account setup (if needed), you'll see confirmation that you're registered for the AP exam on your MyAP home screen. This screen will also display the date and time of your scheduled exam.
