AP Courses Prep Graduates for the College Classroom

In his first semester as a freshman at Brown University, Charlie Harrison '11 is already aware of the role his AP courses at Rivers have played in the transition to college.

"I think the AP courses at Rivers prepared me quite adequately for college," said Harrison, who took AP Physics, Chemistry, English Literature, English Language and Composition, BC Calculus, and studied AP Computer Science on his own during his time at Rivers.

Harrison isn't alone when it comes to the success he achieved in AP courses and on AP exams. Of the 186 AP exams taken in 17 subjects last year, 82 percent resulted in a score of four or five. Ninety-eight percent of all AP exam scores were a three or higher - a statistic that positions Rivers well above average. Seventy-three percent of students in Massachusetts score a three or higher on AP exams compared with 60 percent of students worldwide.

At Rivers, high scores on AP exams are a byproduct of classroom experience and thoughtfully executed curricula. The initial goals of AP courses are a high level of learning and preparation for academic success in college. As Rivers faculty members aim to accomplish these goals, high scores have followed naturally.

Students like Harrison are finding that AP courses have provided them with the background they need for success across multiple disciplines in college.

"The only [AP] course that specifically relates to my first semester is BC Calculus, but both AP English classes apply to any sort of writing course," he said. "Right now I'm in a writing-intensive history course and the Rivers English Department prepared me well."