Cardinal Gibbons offers 25 Advanced Placement courses. These courses are more challenging than College Preparatory (CP) and Honors courses, as they cover college level content provided by the College Board. 

Despite their challenge, many students at Gibbons enroll in them for the rewards they offer: the potential of college credit and a GPA boost.

In May, after months of rigorous preparation, many AP students take an examination not administered by the teachers, but instead by the College Board. The grading scale for this test is between a zero and a five, and in order to pass a three or higher is required. This test does not affect a student’s grade in the class, but many colleges accept a passing grade to serve as college credit. Some colleges are more selective, accepting only fours and fives, and a select few accept fives only. 

Additionally, AP classes are weighted more than both CP and Honors classes, meaning that taking them, and doing well in them, can help a student to earn a higher weighted GPA.

However, despite the potential “rewards” of taking an AP class, they will not be achieved without hard work being applied. Educators teaching AP classes often expect more from students and typically assign more homework or assignments in order to adequately prepare students for the class and AP Exam. Additionally, many courses require summer work so that students enter the year prepared. 

When considering taking APs, it is important that students make their schedules manageable. It is good to be challenged by harder courses and contents, but students should try to avoid being too overwhelmed or taking classes that may negatively affect their GPAs or their academic experience as a whole.

List of AP Courses:

English:

AP English Language and Composition

AP English Literature and Composition

World Languages:

AP French

AP Spanish Language

AP Spanish Literature

Social Studies:

AP World History

AP U.S. History

AP U.S. Government and Politics

Science:

AP Chemistry

AP Environmental Science

AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based

AP Physics C: Mechanics

AP Physics 2: Algebra-Based

AP Biology

Math:

AP Precalculus

AP Calculus AB

AP Calculus BC

AP Statistics

With some offered AP Electives..

AP Computer Science

AP Music Theory

AP Drawing

AP Psychology

Through Catholic Virtual:

AP Human Geography

AP Macroeconomics