Advanced Placement Program 

The AP program is offered in English, social studies, math, science, foreign languages, and fine arts. AP courses are offered as open enrollment to all students committed to rigorous academic work. Students may earn the FCPS AP Diploma and take individual AP courses of their choice. Students may pupil place to an AP school only if they commit to pursue an FCPS AP Program of Studies. Further information about the AP program may be obtained by contacting your child's counselor or the school AP Coordinator. All students enrolled in an AP course are required to take the end-of-course AP exam. AP exams are graded on a scale of 1-5.


Summer Workshop
The summer workshop is an opportunity for rising sophomore, junior and senior students to familiarize themselves with the expectations, curriculum, and requirements of the AP courses that they are enrolled in for the upcoming school year. The 2011 AP Workshop will be on Thursday, August 25th .

First-time AP students are invited to participate in the morning workshop, that will include three learning skills sessions that focus on critical reading skills, analytical writing skills, and test-taking strategies. Following a complimentary lunch for all-day attendees, both new and experienced AP students can participate in course-specific sessions offered in the afternoon. Students may select up to four presentations to attend. The presentations will be conducted by the Langley High School faculty and will focus on course content and activities, as well as the required summer assignments. All AP teachers hold certification to teach their respective AP Courses.

Each workshop participant should complete the enrollment form, mail it along with a check made out to Langley High School, to the address on the form. The fee for first-time AP students, who will be attending both the morning and afternoon sessions, is $50. The fee for experienced AP students, who will be attending the afternoon session only, is $25. The morning sessions for new AP students will be limited to 165 students.  Slots will be assigned for the morning sessions based on date payment received.  All registration materials should be mailed by July 1, 2011.  For further information regarding registration, please contact Kevin Howard, the Advanced Placement Coordinator at kevin.howard@fcps.edu. 

Download the enrollment form here.

Expectations for AP Courses at Langley High School
The following table provides an idea of how much time and work is needed to prepare for an Advanced Placement course. These entries are meant to be an approximation of time, outside of class work, and assignments.  Some students will need less time and some will need more to do the same assignments depending on their skill level.  It is assumed that an AP student, having done well in the preliminary courses, will have the level of skill, interest, commitment and achievement needed to be successful in a college-level course taught with a college textbook.

This table should be used by prospective students to gauge the impact of an AP course on their overall course schedule; to be aware of the time impact on other core courses or electives; and, to remember the time needed for after school activities.

All students enrolling in an AP course must complete the AP contract as part of the registration process. Students must remain in an AP course until the end of the first semester.

English | Fine Arts | Foreign Languages | Mathematics | Science | Social Studies

Course Reading per class Study Hours per class Tests, essays & papers Major Projects
Language & Composition

3 major works per quarter

1-2 hrs/day

2 in-class essays per quarter; Daily analytical writing responses; Periodic quizzes and tests that focus on analytical reading and writing skills

Extensive summer reading; End of the year term (research) paper
Literature & Composition

3 major works per quarter

2 hrs/day

Analytical expository papers(4-6 pages); 2 timed essays per quarter; 4-6 poetry analyses per quarter

Extensive Summer Reading; Major critical paper (8-12 pages) on a work of literature of student choice

Fine Arts
Course Reading per class Study Hours per class Tests, essays & papers Major Projects

Studio Art- 2D, 3D, Drawing

ongoing sketchbook assignments; at home completion of work

1hr/day

6-8 pieces of work per quarter; Attendance in class each period is essential; unfinished work to be completed at home

Major Project- 4th quarter; Exhibition portfolio and slide portfolio must be maintained by student

Art History

35-60 pages per week

3-4 hours per week

Weekly reading quizzes with writing; chapter tests for each chapter; 2-3 unit tests per quarter, each with timed writing

1 museum visit per quarter; 1 minor or major group project per quarter; individual enrichment projects after AP Exam quarter

Foreign Language
Course Reading per class Study Hours per class Tests, essays & papers Major Projects

French Language

varies

1 hr/day

At least 2-3 essays per quarter; At least 2 tests per quarter

Attendance and active participation each class period is critical

French Literature

50 pages per week

1-2 hrs/day

3 tests per quarter; 3 essays per quarter

2-3 oral presentations per quarter

Spanish Language

varies

1 hr/day

At least 2 tests per quarter; At least 2-3 essays per quarter

Attendance and active participation each class period is critical

Spanish Literature

37 works total; 10-25 pages per class

1-2 hrs/ day

5-8 quizzes per quarter; 3-4 tests/essays per quarter

One project per quarter, usually of material covered in class

Latin Literature

varies

1 hr/day

10 lines of translation per class; 5-8 translation quizzes per quarter; At least 2 tests per quarter; At least 1 essay per semester

Attendance and active participation each class period is critical

German Language

varies  

1 hr/day

At least 2 tests per quarter; At least 2-3 essays per quarter

Attendance and active participation each class period is critical

Japanese Language

varies

1 hr/day

At least 2 tests per quarter; At least 2-3 essays per quarter

Attendance and active participation each class period is critical

Russian Language

varies

1 hr/day

At least 2 tests per quarter; at least 2-3 essays per quarter

Attendance and active participation each class period is critical

Mathematics
Course Reading per class Study Hours per class Tests, essays & papers Major Projects

Calculus AB

5-10 pages

1-1.5 hrs/day

4-5 study hours for quizzes and tests; 3 major unit exams per quarter requiring 6-8 hours studying time

Major project 4th quarter

Calculus BC

5-10 pages

1-1.5 hrs/ day

6-8 hours for quizzes and tests; 3 major unit exams per quarter requiring 6-8 hours study time

Major project 4th quarter

Computer Science

varies

1.5 hr/day

Programming assignments require 2+ hrs per assignment outside of class

Major project –4th quarter

Statistics

5 pages

1-1.5 hrs/day

3 major unit exams per quarter requiring 6-8 hours studying time

Quarterly projects

Science
Course Reading per class Study Hours per class Tests, essays & papers Major Projects

Biology

10-20 pages

1 hr/day

2-3 tests per quarter; 2-3 labs per quarter

Essay writing due every 3 weeks

Chemistry

30 pages per week

1 hr/day

2 tests + 1 quiz per quarter; 3-4 labs per quarter

 

Physics C (Calculus based)

As needed

1hr/day average

2 tests per quarter; weekly quizzes & homework

 

Environmental Science

30-50 pages per week

1 hr/day

2-3 tests per quarter ; 1-2 labs per quarter

1 Major project each quarter

Social Studies
Course Reading per class Study Hours per class Tests, essays & papers Major Projects
World History

50-80 pages per week

1-2 hrs/day

3-4 major tests per quarter; Weekly reading quizzes; 4-5 major writings per quarter; 2 timed writings per quarter

Extensive Summer Reading; 1 Major Project/semester
U.S. History

15-20 pages per class

1-2 hrs/day

4 essays per quarter; 3-5 tests per quarter; 3 major works per quarter; 3-4 timed writings per quarter

Extensive summer reading; Quarter project: Art History & History; End of the year term (research) paper
U.S. Government

30-50 pages per week

1 hr/day

2-4 tests, 5-6 quizzes, 1-2 essays per quarter; weekly Outlook write-ups

Extensive summer reading; Several Major Projects

Macro/Micro Economics

20-40 page per week

1-2 hrs/day

3-4 tests per quarter; weekly problem sets or study guides

Major project 4th quarter

Psychology

15-20 pages per class

3-4 hrs/week

Daily quizzes; 4-5 tests with timed essays per quarter

3rd quarter project; 4th quarter project