Academic Programs

Listen to Brookwood students on their AP experiences: 
Brookwood Students Discuss AP Classes

AP Capstone is a unique diploma program that provides students the opportunity to develop and perfect research, writing, speaking, source evaluation, and collaborative skills needed to be successful in college and, eventually, many careers. It is a two-year commitment, so enrollment in the program is available to rising juniors only. Students who complete the two AP Capstone courses (AP Seminar and AP Research) with a 3 or higher will receive the AP Seminar and Research Certificate. Students who complete both Capstone courses with a 3 or higher PLUS score a 3 or higher on exams in four additional AP courses will be awarded the AP Capstone Diploma distinction. Check out the information below to learn more about how this program might be a great compliment to your AP experience at Brookwood High School.

Click here to learn more about AP Capstone from College Board.

What is AP? Click here to learn more about AP.

Course Descriptions and Sample Tests

View AP scores online

Hear student perspectives of their AP experiences on College Board's Advanced Placement YouTube channel.

1.   What is an AP® course?
An AP course is an Advanced Placement® course certified by The College Board as a college-level class taught in high school. Students can earn college credit as well as high school credit for these courses if their scores on the national AP Examinations are high enough to satisfy university requirements.

2.   How much college credit can students earn?
Students can earn as much as two semesters college credit for each subject.  Contact a specific university for information on the amount of credit granted in different subject areas.

3.   Are AP classes hard?
AP classes are challenging but not impossible. The College Board requires that all AP teachers receive extensive training and that AP classes use college-level textbooks in order to maintain the level of rigor necessary to pass the national AP Exams.

4.   How many Brookwood students pass the national AP Examinations?
While the number varies from year to year, Brookwood students pass exams in every subject area at well above the national rate.

5. What are grades like in an AP classes?
The Gwinnett County Board of Education established a 10 point bonus to be added to students’ final grades in all AP classes as an incentive for students to take more challenging classes. A grade of 89, for example, becomes 99 on the student’s report card. A grade of 95 becomes 105.

6. Do I have to be an A student to be successful in AP classes?
While A students often have time management and study skills that help them to be successful, any highly motivated student who has taken necessary prerequisite classes can be successful. Students who score above the national SAT average score tend to be more successful in AP courses than students with scores below the national SAT average.

7. Do AP courses have a lot of homework? 
AP courses do have homework, like all classes, but AP classes do need more preparation.  Students who have a job and work more than 20 hours a week or who spend more than three hours a day with extracurricular activities will probably have some time management problems.  

8. How many AP courses do students take per year?
While some exceptionally well-organized and highly motivated students can manage five AP courses per year, most students find 3 classes per year more comfortable. 

9. Do AP courses matter to colleges?
Rigor of schedule is now very important to the college admissions process. In order to be competitive with students from across the nation who have transcripts showing many AP courses, students should take as many AP classes as they can. Colleges report that AP courses on a transcript show that the student has initiative, motivation, and time management skills

10. How do AP courses help a student receive the Hope Grant?
Receiving a Hope Grant requires a 3.0 GPA. Hope re-calculates GPA by counting only core subjects and converting GPA to a 4.0 scale. An 88, for example, converts to a 3.0. Although Hope presently removes any bonus points given by school systems, it adds back an extra .5 for each AP grade. An 88 in an AP class converts to a 3.5. Research shows that students with AP experience have a higher incidence of maintaining a 3.0 or better in college. Research also shows that students with AP experience more often complete college than students who do not.

Brookwood High School’s Recognition

Since its opening, Brookwood High School has honored academic achievement and has encouraged its students to challenge themselves with rigorous course selection.  Continuing in this tradition, the Brookwood AP Scholar Recognition is designed to pay tribute to students who have utilized the Advanced Placement course offerings to better prepare themselves for the college classroom.  The Brookwood High School AP Scholars will have the opportunity to purchase a medallion to be worn with the graduation gown.  The medallion will be embossed with the Brookwood crest and will hang from a maroon and gold ribbon.  Students will also receive a special diploma seal and will have their names permanently displayed on a plaque to be displayed on the Brookwood AP Scholars Wall in A100 Hall.

The criteria for being named a Brookwood High School AP Scholar is to be “on track” to receive four units in Advanced Placement courses by the end of the senior year with a “B” average or better in those courses by the end of the first semester of the senior year. Students who will qualify for this honor will be notified by letter in March. Recipients will be recognized at a celebration in April and will receive their purchased medallions at that time.

 

College Board’s Recognition

The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement based on students’ performance on AP Exams.  These recognitions are separate from Brookwood High School and do not meet the requirements for the BHS AP Scholar recognition.

• AP Scholar: Granted to students who receive an average score of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams. 
• AP Scholar with Honor: Granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams.  
• AP Scholar with Distinction: Granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. 
• National AP Scholar: Granted to students in the United States who receive an average score of at least 4 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams.