Holton-Arms No AP Classes

[Anonymous]

Advanced studies are as deep and challenging as AP classes; they just don’t require the student to take the actual test for credit. It’s not as drastic of a change as it sounds-and seems to be working for the privates. When we visit colleges they know what schools don’t offer AP anymore and review applications with that in mind.

[Anonymous]

NCS has all but phased them out. Sidwell, GDS and Potomac have gotten rid if them too. I don’t know about Maret? It isn’t a big deal. Top privates all over the country have gotten rid if APs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:STA has kept them.

Really? They were part of the original group that announced together:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2018/06/18/several-well-known-private-schools-in-the-d-c-area-are-scrapping-advanced-placement-classes/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:STA has kept them.

Really? They were part of the original group that announced together:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2018/06/18/several-well-known-private-schools-in-the-d-c-area-are-scrapping-advanced-placement-classes/

They have changed their mind and are keeping APs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Doesn’t matter. The kids who would take Ap are not going to schools that would accept AP. So they just evaluate if you took the most rigorous course offered.

Ivies accept 5s on over 10 subjects. Look for yourself. Do tiny slacs make you redo your language or math or science requirement regardless of major or HS transcript?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NCS has all but phased them out. Sidwell, GDS and Potomac have gotten rid if them too. I don’t know about Maret? It isn’t a big deal. Top privates all over the country have gotten rid if APs.

Gds teachers run AP prep classes before the May AP test for those students who know getting a good score waives them out of a class or subject. Some teachers don’t, so more work for the kid to DIY study. Many do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:STA has kept them.

Really? They were part of the original group that announced together:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2018/06/18/several-well-known-private-schools-in-the-d-c-area-are-scrapping-advanced-placement-classes/

They have changed their mind and are keeping APs.

No they’re not. They’re being phased out slowly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Doesn’t matter. The kids who would take Ap are not going to schools that would accept AP. So they just evaluate if you took the most rigorous course offered.

Not true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:STA has kept them.

Really? They were part of the original group that announced together:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2018/06/18/several-well-known-private-schools-in-the-d-c-area-are-scrapping-advanced-placement-classes/

They have changed their mind and are keeping APs.

No they’re not. They’re being phased out slowly.

No, I asked the school this year and they are now keeping them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Doesn’t matter. The kids who would take Ap are not going to schools that would accept AP. So they just evaluate if you took the most rigorous course offered.

Not true.

Brown and penn take three relevant AP test grades we will have taken by graduation. We’ll pick one for ED and sit for the tests that matter.

Do your own homework parents. It’s right on the college websites. Pick your colleges, then see if it makes sense to sit for which AP tests..you don’t need 11+ AP test 4 or 5s to prove your merit but the 2-4 that can help you waive out of a subject entirely and focus on your major or get into higher level classes or free up space to do a study abroad or double major, are great options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No APs is old news. The Big 5 or whatever you want to call them (I think there were 7 who decided together to do this) all abandoned them. I’m much happier for it; I’d rather the girls explore classes in a college format, if they want to take the test, they can no problem. This isn’t a rare thing in top schools.

You can still do all of this with an AP class.

Then it seems like public or a second tier private that offers them is a great fit for you and your DC! 🙂 at the very least you know which privates don’t meet your needs/wants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No APs is old news. The Big 5 or whatever you want to call them (I think there were 7 who decided together to do this) all abandoned them. I’m much happier for it; I’d rather the girls explore classes in a college format, if they want to take the test, they can no problem. This isn’t a rare thing in top schools.

We are happy too. My kid took the AP and got a 5. The teacher did give them a study day and the guide for the test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:STA has kept them.

No AP classes is ok if your school has 100% fantastic teachers. But no school — including Holton — has 100% fantastic teachers. The lack of AP removes the guardrail protecting against a bad teacher. With AP in place, a bad teacher still has to follow a scheduled curriculum. Without AP, a bad teacher can proceed completely unchecked by fear of accountability from AP test scores (or the need to get through a scheduled curriculum).

This is such a terrible way to approach teacher quality

[Anonymous]

This would just an attempt to stop having kids take 10+ APs over their four years of high schools, like students at strong public schools do.

Students can just take the classes that help their major or topic goals to show mastery or interest, and use the other 3-4 days of homework a night for their private school teacher projects.

So it all works out. Instead of doing a college standard curriculum for 4 or 5 AP scores, you can do your work for your private school teachers’ curriculum, scope and interests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NCS has all but phased them out. Sidwell, GDS and Potomac have gotten rid if them too. I don’t know about Maret? It isn’t a big deal. Top privates all over the country have gotten rid if APs.

My understanding is that Maret never had APs, didn't fit their philosophy. This is what we were told during admissions visit a few years ago.