Online AP® Programs Offered at Laurel Springs
Our course catalog features 24 Advanced Placement® courses. These AP® courses are available to high school students only, with the exception of AP® Spanish and AP® French, which are available to students upon completion of certain prerequisite courses. With fewer than 12 AP Capstone™ online schools providing a comparable range of options, we are a premier choice for families seeking virtual college-level learning opportunities.
Why take Advanced Placement® courses?
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AP Capstone Diploma™ Program
Laurel Springs’ high school students also have access to the AP Capstone Diploma™ Program, a specialized program highly valued by colleges and universities across the world. AP Capstone™ features AP® Seminar and AP® Research courses that develop students' skills in research, analysis, evidence-based debate, collaboration, writing and presenting. Those who successfully complete the two-year program can earn one of two different AP Capstone™ awards – the AP Capstone Diploma™ or AP Seminar and Research Certificate™.
AP® FAQ
Are AP® courses weighted differently, and how will AP courses affect my GPA?
AP® courses are weighted on a 5-point scale. General college-prep courses receive up to 4 points for an A, Honors courses receive up to 4.5 points, and AP courses can receive 5 points. At Laurel Springs, students receive both an unweighted GPA, where everything is calculated on a 4.0 scale, and a weighted GPA, where Honors and AP® weights are taken into consideration.What is taking an AP® course like, and what time commitment is required?
The level of rigor in AP® courses is equivalent to that required of students in a freshman or sophomore college course in this area of study. Students should plan to commit to approximately 250 hours of work per year for each online AP® course they take at Laurel Springs.Is taking the AP® exam required if I take an AP® course?
No, taking the AP® exam is encouraged, but not required. If a student chooses to take an AP® course and not the exam, the student’s Laurel Springs transcript will still show AP® class credit on their college or job applications.Does Laurel Springs administer AP® exams?
Laurel Springs does not administer AP® exams, nor do we assist students in finding a testing location. Students wishing to take an AP® exam are responsible for finding their own physical testing location and having a test ordered for them by following the process for independent students.How do I sign up for the AP® exam?
AP® Seminar includes a team component. How does that work at an online school?
AP® Seminar has a required workshop component that differs from our other workshop courses. Students are required to attend a weekly workshop class, and they should plan to work in teams both within the workshop and outside the workshop at times.AP® Research does not have an exam. Do I still need to sign up for the exam?
Laurel Springs students who take AP® Research are not required to take an AP® exam; however, they still need to register for the exam so their research paper can be evaluated and they can earn a score for the course. Students will achieve the AP Seminar and Research Certificate™ upon successful completion of AP® Research following AP® Seminar.How do I earn the AP Capstone™ awards?
To achieve the AP Capstone Diploma™, a student must:
- Complete a minimum of 4 AP® courses in their high school career and score a 3 or higher on at least four AP® exams
- Complete AP® Seminar and AP® Research courses with included workshops
- Achieve a score of 3 or higher on the AP® Seminar and AP® Research exams
To achieve the AP Seminar and Research Certificate™, a student must only complete the AP® Seminar course, AP® Research course, and their corresponding exams with scores of 3 or higher.
Explore the AP Capstone Diploma™ Program
AP®, Advanced Placement®, AP Seminar and Research Certificate™, and AP Capstone Diploma™ are trademarks registered and owned by the College Board, which is not affiliated with and does not endorse this site.
