Pre-AP Program
Pre-AP courses follow a College Board curriculum that emphasizes close reading and analysis, critical thinking, and interpreting sources. In the classroom, students engage with a wide variety of primary source materials, read and write different types of essays, and engage deeply with each others’ ideas. Teachers of Pre-AP courses use College Board materials to supplement their own classwork and assessments. These courses help students learn the skills and content necessary for future AP courses and also provide a strong foundation for students of all skill levels. At St. John Paul II School, Pre-AP courses carry the Honors designation.
AP Capstone Program
St. John Paul II School is one of approximately 2,000 schools worldwide selected to implement AP Capstone — an innovative diploma program that allows students to develop the skills that matter most for college success: research, collaboration, and communication.
The program consists of two courses taken in sequence: AP Seminar and AP Research. Developed in direct response to feedback from higher education faculty and college admission officers, AP Capstone complements the in-depth, subject-specific study of other Advanced Placement courses and exams.
Students who earn scores of 3 or higher on AP Seminar and AP Research assessments and on four additional AP Exams of their choosing will earn the AP Capstone Diploma. This signifies their outstanding academic achievement and attainment of both college-level academic and research skills. Students who earn scores of 3 or higher on both AP Seminar and AP Research assessments only (but not on four additional AP Exams) will earn the AP Seminar and Research Certificate.
