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High School Advanced-level Learning and Research Opportunities

Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) and Advanced Placement (AP) Courses

Every high school offers Advanced (ADV) and Advanced Placement (AP) courses in English, science, mathematics, social studies, computer science, world language, art, and research. A detailed description of specific ADV and AP courses and prerequisites can be found in the Catalog of Approved High School Courses. The Student Services Team at each school can also assist in registration for these courses. Students who score well on an AP examination at the end of the course may be granted AP status or college credit upon entering a college or university.

Advanced Research

Learn more about the Advanced Research, Advanced Intern/Mentor, AP Seminar, and AP Research courses.

Art

Art II ADV, Art III AP, Art IV AP, Art History AP, Art Studio AP, Photography I ADV, Photography II AP, Photography III AP, Photo Studio AP

Business and Computer Management Systems

Advanced Data Structures ADV, Advanced Object-Oriented Design ADV, Computer Science A – AP, Principles of Java Programming ADV, Computer Science Principles AP

Dance

Dance Seminar: Education and Production ADV, Dance Company ADV, Junior Dance Company ADV

English

English 9 ADV, English 10 ADV, English 11 AP, English 12 AP, Humanities I ADV, Humanities II ADV, Humanities III AP, Humanities IV AP

Mathematics

Geometry ADV, Algebra II ADV, Business Calculus ADV, Calculus AB AP, Calculus C/Multivariate Calculus AP, Differential Equations ADV, Discrete Mathematics ADV, Linear Algebra ADV, Statistics AP, Precalculus ADV

Media

Video Production ADV

Music

Band-Wind Ensemble/Marching ADV, Chamber Choir ADV, Concert Choir ADV, Music Theory II AP, String Orchestra ADV, Vocal Ensemble ADV

Science

Biology ADV, Biology AP, Chemistry ADV, Chemistry AP, Environmental Science AP, Physics I AP, Physics II AP, Physics C: Mechanics AP, Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism AP

Social Studies

United States History ADV, United States History AP, World History AP, Comparative Government and Politics AP, European History AP, Government and Politics AP, Human Geography AP, Humanities I ADV, Humanities II ADV/AP, Humanities III AP, Humanities IV ADV, Microeconomics/Macroeconomics AP, Psychology AP

Technology Education

Computer Integrated Manufacturing ADV, Digital Electronics ADV, Engineering Design and Development ADV

Theatre Arts

Theatre Arts II ADV, Theatre Arts IV ADV, Musical Theatre II ADV, Musical Theatre III ADV, Technical Theatre II ADV, Technical Theatre II ADV

World Languages

Chinese IV AP, French V AP ADV, German IV AP ADV, Italian IV AP, Latin IV AP ADV, Spanish V AP ADV (Language), Spanish V AP (Literature)

Advanced Research Courses

The Advanced Research courses provide opportunities for students to develop critical thinking, research, collaboration, and presentation skills as they engage in college-level coursework. All of these courses provided weighted elective credit.

While participating in the Advanced Independent Research and Advanced Intern/Mentor courses at Atholton High, Liza Goldberg applied her passion for the environment to research conducted at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center’s Biospheric Sciences Lab to help monitor forest change on a global scale. Watch her story here.

AP Capstone

The AP Capstone Program includes two courses: AP Seminar and AP Research. When taken in combination with four additional AP courses and exams, these courses fulfill the requirements for the AP Capstone Diploma. Completing these two courses plus four additional AP courses, with scores of 3 or higher on each exam, fulfills the requirements for the AP Capstone Diploma.

AP Seminar (Grades 10-12)

AP Seminar engages students in cross-curricular conversations that explore the complexities of academic and real-world topics and issues by analyzing divergent perspectives. Students learn to investigate a problem or issue, analyze arguments, compare different perspectives, synthesize information from multiple sources, and work alone and in a group to communicate their ideas.

AP Research (Grades 11-12)

AP Research empowers students to dive deeply into a topic of personal interest through a mentored, yearlong investigation. Building on skills from AP Seminar, the course emphasizes research methods, ethics, and information synthesis. Students showcase their work through a scholarly paper and an oral presentation with defense.

Prerequisite: AP Seminar

How to Enroll: To enroll in AP Seminar or AP Research, please submit your request in HCPSS Connect.

Advanced Research Program

Independent Research I, II, III (ADV) (Grades 9-12)

In Independent Research ADV, students develop an understanding of research methods and apply that knowledge as they plan and conduct research in an area of interest. Through this inquiry, students deepen their critical thinking skills as they create a literature review, collect and analyze data, propose solutions to real-world problems, and communicate their findings.

See the High School Advanced Research Program (AR) Independent Research and Intern/Mentor Program Curriculum (PDF) for more details on the research class.

How to Enroll: Please see your school’s Advanced Research teacher for more information about the course. Requests to enroll in Independent Research are made through HCPSS Connect during the high school registration process.

Learn More About Independent Research and Intern/Mentor Programs →

Intern/Mentor (ADV) (Grades 11-12).

Students study off-campus with a professional mentor in a self-selected area of interest. The Advanced Research (AR) teacher facilitates classroom and internship experiences, focusing on advanced-level research methodologies, college-level writing, and presentation skills. At the mentor site, students apply the knowledge and skills they have learned in an authentic, professional environment. This course includes the following requirements:

  • Acceptance via application and intake interview.
  • Knowledge or advanced-level skills in the mentor’s area of work.
  • Two recommendations from professionals who have taught or worked with the student in the related area of study and that support the student’s task commitment, responsibility, independence, and ability to work well with adults.
  • Reliable transportation for in-person internships.

Students intern in a wide variety of fields, including clinical medicine, law, business, engineering, education, computer science, humanities, mass communication, science research, applied arts, veterinary medicine, performing arts, and social activism.

How to Enroll: Intern/Mentor ADV applications are available in December and are due in January. Please see your school’s Advanced Research (AR) teacher for the due date and to obtain the online or print application in addition to submitting your course request in HCPSS Connect.