by Henry Wong

May 2 was the first day of Advanced Placement exams at Bellbrook High School and exams will run through May 13 nationally. Bellbrook High School currently offers the following 14 AP classes: Computer Science, English Literature & Composition, English Language & Composition, French, Spanish, Music Theory, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Chemistry, Statistics, Environmental Science, Biology, US History, and US Government & Politics. Next year AP Physics and AP Computer Science Principles will be added to the curriculum. Offering this many AP classes has helped make Bellbrook High School one of the most challenging high schools in Ohio, ranking it at number 36 in the state in a recent ranking of “America’s Most Challenging High Schools” done by the Washington Post in May 2016.

It is interesting to note that the Advanced Placement program was started in 1952 under a pilot program with only 11 courses and became the College Board Advanced Placement Program by the 1955-1956 school year. It has grown into a 34-course program and allows students to earn college credit, thereby saving thousands in tuition costs.

The AP test is graded on a five point scale with a “5” meaning the student is “extremely well qualified” and a “1” meaning there is “no recommendation.” The results are released in July and exams are graded by qualified AP high school teachers and college professors. Bellbrook High School is usually a district that scores well with many scores of 3 and better credited to the students taking the exams.