AP & Dual Enrollment Classes Could Earn You A FREE Chevrolet Camaro

But there is an even bigger reason to take these rigorous courses…

Last evening my wife and I along with our CRHS Freshman attended an informational presentation during Crystal River High School Open house on Advance Placement (AP) & Dual Enrollment Classes.  Assistant Principal, Melissa Zaniewski opened the event by introducing several of the CRHS Advance Placement Staff and what classes they teach.  Then Ms. Zaniewski turned the presentation over to Patrick Simon, Director of Research and Accountability and former CRHS principal.

Mr. Simon began with the help of a student he chose from the audience.  He asked this student how he would like to learn how he could save enough money to purchase a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro or better yet a 2011 Mercedes-Benz C300?  The student not surprisingly said, “yes”!  Mr. Simon shared that currently in Florida the cost of one year (approximately 30 credits) in a Florida University is averaging $20,600 and Florida College (formerly known as Community College) averages $12,500.  In the 2012-2013 school year, 310 AP or Dual Enrollment College Credits were awarded to CRHS students.  Several students earned over 30 credits which is over one year of college, and approximately $20,600 savings or the cost of a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro LS Coupe. As a parent of a high school student I have to say Mr. Simon had my attention.

Mr. Simon explained the differences between AP Classes and Dual Enrollment Classes.  First of all college credits in AP classes are only earned if you pass the AP exam and the number of credits vary as to the score on the exam you get ranging from 1 to 5 points. As an example a score of 3 to 5 earns a credit, 4 to 5 may earn twice the credits depending on the college or university you attend and the degree you are seeking.  It is important to understand that simply taking and passing the AP course does not earn you college credit.  Dual Enrollment courses on the other hand provide that if you pass the course then you earned the college credit and that if the student is attending a Florida college or university the school must accept the credit.  AP credit is accepted throughout the US at almost every college and university.

It is not uncommon for a high school student to earn anywhere from 10 to 50 college credits while in high school taking AP classes and Dual Enrollment classes.  That is the monetary equivalent of between $6,000 and $30,000.

If that were not enough of a reason to take AP or Dual Enrollment courses there is another reason, perhaps an even bigger reason to take these courses.  Citrus County Schools data, supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has shown that our students that take these rigorous courses are significantly more prepared for college than those that did not.  For example, students that take the AP course and on the AP Exam scored a ‘1’ or a ‘2’, did not pass the exam and did not earn college credit, but interestingly, 65% of these students persisted on into college and received their degree.  This is compared to those students who DID NOT TAKE any AP courses and 42% persisted in college and received a degree.  Why? Because these students learned the necessary student skills that are required to be successful in college.

College Success Data provided by “Advance,” a data mining web-tool developed by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and targeted school districts in the US, including Citrus County Schools.

For more information on AP and Dual Enrollment please visit the district’s web site on AP at http://www.citruseducation.com/departments/research_&_accountability/ap.htm or contact your high school guidance counselor.

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