Gifted and Talented Education (GATE)
Advanced Placement (AP) Program

The Advanced Placement Program consists of college-level courses and rigorous end-of-course exams for senior high school students developed by the CollegeBoard out of Princeton, New Jersey. Over 90% of the colleges that most AP candidates attend give credit and/or advanced placement at many of teh nation's colleges and universities to students whose examination grades are considered acceptable. In addition, college admissions officers view a candidate taking AP courses and the College Board exams favorably whether or not the student scored well enough to receive credit at their institution. AP classes—when compared to other high school courses—go into greater depth, often take more time, require more work, and give greater opportunity for individual progress and accomplishment. The end-of-course exams, an important part of each course, allow for the assessment-driven curriculum, ensuring adherence to higher expectations and standards that are common throughout the country, and produce measurable results.

San Diego City Schools has an extensive AP Program: district high schools collectively offered 31 different AP courses in past years. AP courses train students in close reading, vocabulary, problem solving, essay writing, and reasoning and analysis. In AP courses students experience a universe of knowledge that might otherwise be unexplored in high school. In 2002-2003, 19.33% of eligible district students in Grades 10, 11, and 12 enrolled in one or more AP courses. In 2003-2004, the number increased to 21.26% with offered classes increasing to 32 offered throughout the district.

Twice a year, Advanced Placement Teacher Workshops are offered to teachers throughout the San Diego City Schools. These workshops are conducted by reknown speakers from CollegeBoard.com and train teachers to deal better and more effectively with the challenges of the AP classroom and curriculum.

For information on the workshops, please click here.

CollegeBoard's Report to the Nation regarding Advanced Placement

RESOURCES:

• CollegeBoard.com
• AP Teacher Standards
• AP Fee Reduction Program
• AP Strategies for Expanding Access to AP
• The Value of AP Courses and Exams (English)
• The Value of AP Courses and Exams (Espanol)
• Auditing Information for an AP Course
• AP By the Sea
• Cal State San Marcos Coursework

International Baccalaureate Program

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Program is a rigorous, pre-university, two-year course of study for highly motivated eleventh and twelfth grade students offered locally at San Diego High School/School of International Studies program. Students in this program are actively engaged in a liberal arts curriculum that includes such features as an interdisciplinary Theory of Knowledge course, community service activities, foreign language study, and an original research project. This program trains the student to think critically about learning, to question what is being taught, and to strive to improve in all academic areas. Universities and colleges often recognize IB through granting advanced course standing and college credit. IB final exams are based on two years' coursework in each course for the student. IB exams require student to participate in written exams in most subject areas, oral exams in other areas, and turning in lab books, project, papers, and other coursework.

The current director of this program is Karen Delaurier at San Diego High School/School of International Studies.

Both AP and IB students take end-of-course exams to receive weighted credit as outlined in District Administrative Procedure 4705. Federal and state AP exam fee assistance is available.

RESOURCES:

• International Baccalaureate Organization