(April 4, 2000) -- As the junior class joined Clark this year, Advanced Placement classes were offered for the first time. AP classes are college level courses taught for high school students. AP students who pass the subject matter test may receive college credit.

AP courses currently offered at Clark are biology, U.S. history, statistics and American literature. Unlike other districts where AP courses are also offered for sophomores, Clark only gives this option to members of the junior class.

“A student can  get into an AP course with a teacher recommendation and at least an A or a B on a previous class in relation to the AP course. Acceptance into an AP class also depends on the course,” counselor Rebecca Angulo said.

There are advantages and disadvantages to taking an AP course. The AP course may add one extra point to a student’s Grade Point Average (GPA). However, the additional point is only added on to a grade of an A or B. Therefore, the rigorous course may prove to be too difficult for students, thus lowering their GPA. Nevertheless, a student who excels in an AP class will receive college recognition from some colleges; however, a score of two or less will receive no recognition.

“There is a lot of pressure in taking an AP course, and since the instructor teaches by AP standards it is very hard to keep up,” said Joe Kim.

Clark also has an honors program that is available to all grade levels. The honors classes that are offered at Clark are world history, English and several math classes.

At Clark, students are able to take honors classes with a teacher recommendation and excellent performance in the class pre requisite.

The honors course is not an AP preparation course. It also does not give any grade point advantage to students wanting to take an AP class.

The honors courses are more difficult than a regular class but receive less recognition from colleges than AP courses. An honors class adds minimally to a student’s GPA, only within the school district. This addition to the GPA does not carry on to a college application. However, many colleges count the number of honors courses on the transcript and look highly upon it.

“At the beginning of the year, we didn’t have a separate honors class. I didn’t notice much difference in papers since we started the honors program. I’ve noticed a big improvement on their papers since they have been in the honors program,” commented history teacher Cynthia Puchinarz.