Understanding AP® Courses for the 2026-27 School Year and How You Can Get Started

Advanced Placement (AP®) courses at Laurel Springs offer students a unique opportunity to challenge themselves academically, all while preparing for college (and potentially earning college credit!). Students at Laurel Springs have more than 20 AP® courses to choose from, and depending on their course load, they can take advantage of as many as they like starting in ninth grade, provided they have met the prerequisites. There are plenty of benefits to taking advantage of these advanced courses, and for students interested in exploring their options, we have something for everyone.

Let’s break down the different types of AP® Courses available at Laurel Springs! 

AP® English Courses

AP® English Language & Composition – Juniors and seniors interested in becoming skilled readers of prose from any period or context as well as becoming skilled writers will thrive in this course. 

AP® English Literature & Composition – Juniors and seniors will learn how to analyze prose and poetry and start establishing connections between the text, understanding nuances and applying these findings to their own writing. 

AP® Mathematics Courses

AP® Statistics – Students who successfully complete Algebra 2 can learn more about Statistics with this course. They will explore how to decode data, sampling and experimentation, probability and simulation, and statistical inference. 

AP® Calculus AB – After successfully completing Pre-Calculus, students can immerse themselves into the world of calculus, learning more about the historical journey of discovery and the development of calculus, as well as diving into derivatives, defining integrals, and learning about the fundamental theorem of calculus. 

AP® Calculus BC – Students who have completed Pre-Calculus can learn more about topics covered in Calculus AB as well as parametric functions, polar functions, vector functions, and analysis of series. This course is designed to give a taste of a college level calculus class, and while the pace is faster than Calculus AB, the course is not more challenging. 

AP® Computer Science A – Students who complete Algebra 1 can learn more about computer science through programming, learning about fundamental topics like designing solutions to problems, using data structures to organize large sets of data, developing and implementing algorithms to process data, and learning something new, and more. 

AP® Computer Science Principles – Dive into the world of computer science and learn about how to design and evaluate solutions as well as applying computer science to solve problems through the development of algorithms and programs.

AP® Science Courses

AP® Biology – Students who have completed Biology, Chemistry, and Algebra 1 will continue to build their understanding of foundational biological concepts through this lab-based course. Concepts like system interactions, evolution, energetics, information storage, and transmission will be covered in this course.

AP® Chemistry – This lab-based course will explore how to understand chemistry through a series of experiments. After students complete Biology, Chemistry, Geometry, and Algebra 2, they will be eligible to take this course, and each student will receive a lab kit required to complete the lab component. 

AP® Environmental Science – Interested in learning more about Earth’s systems through the lens of understanding the consequences of human activities? This lab-based science course will examine the relationships between the natural world and humans, with reflective, virtual, and hands-on practices utilizing kitchen materials. Completion of Algebra 1 and 2 as well as 2 years of high school science with labs is a prerequisite. 

AP® Physics 1 – This algebra-based course is designed to prepare students to think about physics concepts as interconnected pieces of a puzzle. They will spend time developing critical thinking and reasoning skills, and are required to complete Algebra 2 and Trigonometry or have concurrent enrollment in Pre-Calculus. Each student will receive a lab kit to complete the lab component. 

AP® Arts Course

AP® Art History – Students will learn how to look at works of art critically, using intelligence and sensitivity to articulate why they feel, think, or experience the art the way they do. 

AP® Social Studies Courses

AP® European History – Investigate significant events, individuals, developments, and processes from the 1450s to the present day. Students will explore major themes like interaction of Europe and the world, economic and commercial development, and more. 

AP® Human Geography – Learn more about introductory human geography and cultural geography. Students will learn based on four main subfields, including: economic geography, cultural geography, political geography, and urban geography. Cast studies from all world regions will be used for assignments and examples throughout the course. 

AP® U.S. History – Starting in the year 1491 to the present, students will learn how to think conceptually about U.S. history, applying historical thinking skills to examples from the past. Students will use logic and reason to make comparisons on various developments throughout history.

AP® Psychology – After successful completion of Biology, students can immerse themselves in the scientific study of human behavior and cognition. Lessons will include information about notable figures and psychological studies, with investigation of scientific methods and ethical considerations related to human and animal research. 

AP® World History: Modern – Students will learn about how to develop and use the same skills, practices, and methods historians utilize. They will analyze, synthesize, and evaluate primary and secondary historical sources throughout the entirety of the course. 

AP® US Government & Politics – Semester – Investigate key political concepts, ideas, institutions, policies, interactions, roles, and behaviors that define the political culture of the United States. 

AP® Macroeconomics – Semester – Students who complete Algebra 1 can learn more about the largest scale of economic analysis through learning about scarcity, opportunity cost, supply, demand, and market equilibrium. 

AP® Microeconomics – Semester – After completing Algebra 1, students can take this course and explore the power of marginal thinking and apply it to ordinary situations that individuals and firms experience every day. 

AP® Language Courses

AP® French Language & Culture – Students will not only learn the French language, but will also experience real-world issues that inform assignments, as well as participate in listening activities and additional exam preparation. 

AP® Spanish Language and Culture – Conducted almost entirely in Spanish, this course explores culture in both contemporary and historical contexts. Students will read, listen to, and understand Spanish-language materials and sources from all backgrounds.

AP® Capstone Diploma Program

Designed to successfully prepare students for an academic collegiate career, this program is made up of two year-long components, AP® Seminar and AP® Research. Learn more about the AP Capstone Diploma Program and how students can earn the AP Capstone Diploma and/or the AP Seminar and Research Certificate by reviewing our recent blog! 

AP® Courses – Academy 

Laurel Springs offers AP® Courses exclusively available to Academy students. These courses offer additional opportunities to work together with other classmates in synchronous settings (“Workshops”) throughout the year, as well as additional preparation for the AP exam, including lab practice through Labster for courses like AP® Biology and AP® Environmental Science. Academy students at Laurel Springs can choose between Academy AP® Courses and our core program AP® Courses.

Reviewing the available AP® courses can benefit high school students in achieving their long-term academic goals, and interested students can review recommendations from the College Board by grade level. Students who take AP® courses in high school can get ready for college, explore new interests, become exposed to new areas of study, and boost their GPAs. 

At Laurel Springs, we encourage all students to reach their full academic potential, and by offering a wide range of advanced courses, we have seen countless students achieve their dreams. Interested in learning more about the AP®  Courses at Laurel Springs? Visit our website or request more information today.

Share on social media