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With a variety of advanced academic curricula to choose from, how can families decide which one is best for their student? Photo: iStock
There was a time teens went to high school and simply took the classes offered. If they did well, they got into college and if they got really good grades, they might even have been awarded a scholarship. Things are not so simple now. These days, top private universities want to see real-world achievements such as entrepreneurship or founding a nonprofit, and even state schools expect more than the standard high school curriculum. But with a variety of advanced academic curricula to choose from, how can families decide which one is best for their student?
First, let’s look at the accelerated high school programs offered.
Advanced Placement
Advanced Placement (AP) is a program created by College Board, the not-for-profit organization behind the SAT. AP courses are college-level courses taught in high school by high school teachers. Students who take AP courses are eligible to take AP tests at the end of each school year. Based on their test scores, colleges may then grant college credit for the high school course or waive prerequisites, allowing the student to test in to higher level coursework in their first year. (You can look up your planned university’s AP credit policy on the College Board website.) There is no cost for taking an AP course, but each test costs $99.
Most high schools offer at least one AP course, and students can take any that interest them (some may have prerequisites). For example, a student considering a chemistry major might want to try testing out of basic chemistry so that they can take more advanced chemistry right away when they enter college. Or a student who plans to double major in the humanities may take AP calculus to free up space for more courses in their area of interest.
Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education
The Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education, developed by Cambridge University in England, is an internationally recognized secondary school curriculum. Universities worldwide treat the AICE Diploma as the equivalent to UK GCSE and AS and A Levels, with 95 percent of AICE students enrolling in advanced education.
The program is known for flexibility in course selection and focuses on the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Cambridge offers a pathway with stages (Lower Secondary, IGCSE, AS/A Levels) that integrates with or replaces traditional high school. Students must complete a minimum of seven Cambridge International AS & A Level courses and pass the corresponding exams to earn an AICE Diploma. There are only six schools in Washington state that offer Cambridge courses.
International Baccalaureate
The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) is an internationally recognized program that meets all Washington state and district high school requirements with a curriculum made up of six traditional subject areas as well as the IB core curriculum. To receive the IB Diploma, students must complete the core components and exams, for which they may also receive college credit. IB replaces a student’s regular courses for the final two years of high school, but since only a handful of local schools offer the program, families should decide whether to pursue IB before selecting a high school. There is no cost for the program, but exam registration fees can be up to $175 each. At some schools, students can take IB courses without taking IB exams or pursuing the diploma.
Running Start
Running Start is a dual credit program that allows students in grades 11 and 12 to take college courses at Washington’s 34 community and technical colleges. They earn credit for these courses, which can count toward graduation requirements, on both their high school and college transcripts. All of Washington’s public four-year colleges and universities accept Running Start credit.
Which one is best?
These four high school tracks are not identical, and one of them might suit your child’s temperament and learning style better than the others. The differences among them also create unique challenges and advantages that could matter for your family’s education goals.
Admissions and transfer credits
For college admissions, in most cases, which track your child pursues matters less than how fully they are engaged with their courses: Colleges are looking at the difference between earning a full IB diploma and a partial one. Performance is also important; a B in a Running Start class might be better than an A in a regular high school class, but a C is not. One special case: If your child plans to attend university abroad, Cambridge (especially in the UK) and IB are better. These programs may also be beneficial if your student plans to pursue a degree with an international focus.
If your primary concern is earning college credits, AP and Running Start offer the most potential. AP credits are based on test scores, so those with test anxiety will prefer Running Start. That said, it’s worth checking directly with prospective private or out-of-state schools to make sure they accept Running Start credits — not all of them do.
If cost is of concern, choose Running Start. Running Start students are only responsible for incidental costs and transportation — there is no tuition. Although fees vary and some financial aid may be available for each program, each AP test costs about $100 and fees for a full IB or Cambridge diploma can add up.
Challenge and logistics
If pure academic challenge is your goal, IB is generally considered the most rigorous program with the highest workload (Cambridge requires fewer projects). But a driven student can achieve the same level of academic challenge by maximizing their AP or Running Start courses.
Running Start stands out as the option that requires the most maturity from students, who must manage transportation between campuses and the complexities of a dual schedule, as well as the relative freedom to fail of college coursework. For some teens, this can feel liberating, but for those who relish the classic high school experience, any of the other three programs is preferable.
Although your options are limited by what’s available at your child’s high school, college admissions boards assure prospective students that there’s no penalty for lack of access. Your child’s application is considered relative to the opportunities offered. Even if you’re not convinced about that, all these advanced curricula options signal to colleges that your student goes beyond baseline expectations in the pursuit of learning. And each of them can provide a quality education and a strong foundation for your child’s university education and adult life.
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