Advanced Placement Program
The Advanced Placement (AP) Program through Rapid City Area Schools provides an opportunity for students to take rigorous, in-depth, college-level courses while still in high school.
Benefits:
* Save Time and Money:
Your AP score could earn you college credit, advanced placement, or both before you even set foot on campus. Earning college credit or advanced placement can free up more time in your schedule for courses you’re interested in or give you a chance to graduate early. In fact, most AP students who enroll in four-year colleges start school with some credit.
* Stand Out to Colleges:
Most high schools offer a boost to students who complete an AP course and exam. Check with your school counselor for more information.
* Prepare for the Future:
Research shows that students who take AP courses and exams have better college outcomes than their peers. Taking AP develops skills such as time management, critical thinking, scholarly writing, and independent study that will help you succeed in your current classes, in college, and beyond. Sharpening these skills will make your transition from high school to college easier.
* AP Course Difficulty:
AP courses offer the opportunity to study a subject in depth at the college level. AP courses are similar to first-year college courses.
* AP Exams:
When you take an AP course, you have the opportunity to take the corresponding AP Exam in May. AP Exams are given over a two-week period in early May. Whether you’re taking an AP course for the first time, have experienced an AP course before, or are gearing up for your last AP class as a senior, completing your course by taking an AP Exam always has benefits.
AP Courses Running 2024-25
| Course | Central | Stevens |
| AP Calculus | X | |
| AP Chemistry | X | |
| AP English Literature (12) | X | X |
| AP English Language (11) | X | X |
| AP Physics 1 | X | X |
| AP Physics 2 | X | |
| AP Physics C | X | |
| AP Pre-Calculus | X | X |
| AP Psychology | X | X |
| AP Statistics | X | |
| AP US Government | X | X |
| AP US History | X | X |
| AP Spanish | X |
For additional information and detailed course descriptions, please refer to the Guidebook.
College Board
Students must create a College Board account in order to partake in the PSAT/NMSQT and AP exams. Students only need to create one College Board account.
College Board is the parent company for the SAT suite of assessments and the Advanced Placement Program. College Board is a mission-driven not-for-profit organization that connects students to college success and opportunity. Each year, the College Board helps more than 7 million students prepare for a successful transition to college through programs and services in college readiness and college success—including the PSAT 8/9, PSAT/NMSQT, and the Advanced Placement Program.
Create a College Board account
AP Exams
AP Exams are optional, but strongly encouraged for students enrolled in AP courses. AP exams provide students with the opportunity to earn college credit and/or placement with a qualifying score of 3, 4, or 5. These exams are offered in May at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center during the school day.
CollegeBoard AP Exam Registration & Schedule
PSAT/NMSQT
The PSAT suite of assessments are optional exams that help measure a student’s ability in key academic areas, develop familiarity with standardized assessments, and serve as entrance exams to recognition and scholarship programs. The PSAT/NMSQT is the qualification exam for the National Merit Scholarship.
PSAT Exam Registration and Payment