Greater Numbers Taking AP Tests at Royal Oak High

This May, a record number of Royal Oak High School students will take Advanced Placement (AP) tests.

Royal Oak High School offers 13 Advanced Placement courses on-site at the school. The courses are offered in all core content areas and the popularity of the courses is on the rise.  

College credit in high school

AP courses are college-level courses that students take as a part of their high school schedule. In both what is taught and how it is taught, AP classes are college courses. Exams administered each spring provide students enrolled in such courses the opportunity to earn college credit.    

This year, 321 Royal Oak High School students have registered to take 519 AP exams. The exams will be administered between May 6 and May 17 according to strict protocols established by the College Board.

“Over the past four years, we’ve seen an increase of almost 35 percent in the number of students taking AP exams," said Jim Moll, Royal Oak High School Principal. "Students this year have registered to take over 38 percent more exams than were completed in 2010. This is fantastic for these students, their families, and for our school.”

“The increase in the number of students taking AP exams and the number of exams being taken are both incredibly positive indicators,” said Shawn Lewis-Lakin, Superintendent of Schools.  “Because of the college credits they earn through the AP program, we have students graduating from ROHS who begin their post-secondary education a year ahead of other students. This is a great opportunity for students and a great value for families.”

'Commitment to excellence'

According to Sarah Olson, Director of Instruction for the district, the Advanced Placement program is just one of many programs at Royal Oak High School that provide students the opportunity to earn post-secondary credit.  Dual-enrollment, which provides the opportunity for students to enroll in college classes as a part of their high school experience, and career focused education courses, which have articulation agreements with many colleges, are among the other options mentioned by Olson.   

“As a district, we have a commitment to excellence,” stated Lewis-Lakin. “Providing not just college preparatory experiences, but college level work and credit to students at Royal Oak High school is a part of this commitment.”