WHY AP?

The College Board’s Advanced Placement program supports local control while providing a national framework and independent assessment. It’s proven to equip students with college-level skills and knowledge. 

How does NMSI support AP courses? Learn More
Why does NMSI focus on STEM? Learn More


The Value of AP

AP courses are year-long classes designed to give high school students college-level skills and knowledge. At the end of the school year, students are encouraged to participate in the AP exam to assess their mastery of the material and potentially earn college credit.

The exam is scored on a five-point scale. A 2 indicates college-readiness in the subject. A 3 or higher is considered a “qualifying score,” making the student eligible for course credit at most colleges and universities in the country. 


AP students earn more than college credit 
Students with average scores of 2 or higher on their AP exams have higher first-year and fourth-year college GPAs than non-AP students.  

... even without a qualifying score.
Students who average a 2 on AP exams have college GPAs comparable to students who average a 3 – illustrating the benefits of exposure to college-level learning.



Dual Enrollment, Honors and Other Systems

NMSI offers professional development and resources to educators in any school framework, and NMSI’s community learning supports are open to all students.

Dual Enrollment
The structure and rigor of dual enrollment courses vary based on state policies and local agreements between school systems and their partner colleges and universities. College credit may be limited to local or state institutions. 
 
Honors
The rigor and content of honors courses are set and measured at the campus or school system level. That means the standard of rigor varies from school to school. These high school courses don't translate into college credit.
 
International Baccalaureate
The IB framework is unique and requires distinct services that NMSI does not yet offer. NMSI's community events are great opportunities for students in these programs to get additional exposure and practice in STEM skills.
 
Career and Technical Education
Career and Technical Education too often is isolated from AP and other advanced education frameworks. We believe CTE students need and deserve advanced courses, particularly if they aspire to immediate military service or the workforce after high school. 
 


WHAT THEY SAY

"My advice is take at least one AP in a subject you really, really like. And if you think you did well in that one, or if you liked the way it made you feel, try another one. If you try it in areas that you like you might be able to succeed in it."
Nicole Lugo, student
arbara Goleman High School, FL
"It opens gateways to not just college, but really career-readiness. I want students to really start looking for their passion and how AP is really making it more available to them."
Lucille Ciudad Real, Vice Principal
Crawford High School, CA
"The level of thinking, the level of critical thinking that you have to do in an advanced placement class prepares you for what they ask you to do in college, even if you don't pass the exam."
Sue Arredondo, Academic Dean
Wagner High School, TX