Advanced Placement Programs

St. Bonaventure High School

Honors and Advanced Placement Courses

A Pre-AP course is taught with the expectation that the enrolled students will eventually enroll in the subsequent advanced placement course.  An Advanced Placement course is taught as a college-level course and follows the course description provided by the College Board program.  Please see page 12 of the SBHS Course Catalog for further information on the Advanced Placement program.

Students seeking to enroll in a Pre-AP/AP course must meet the prerequisites stated and follow the approval and procedures set by each department.  The prerequisites can be found on the application.  Enrollment is at the discretion of the teachers, counselors, and the Dean of Student Learning.  Students who do not meet the prerequisites will not be enrolled in a Pre-AP/AP course. 

Students enrolled in AP courses are required to take the respective College Board AP Exam in May (for Spanish 4 it is optional).  There will be an additional exam fee for the AP courses, due in the second semester.

While advanced classes are available in multiple subjects, they may not be the right fit for every student. There is no one magic formula for success. Students must take the initiative to meet with teachers and try different approaches on their own until they find the one that works for them.  

Expectations of SBHS Honors & AP Students

This unique program provides students with an opportunity to engage with real-life issues through discussion, research, writing and presentation.

The Capstone Program is comprised of 2 year-long courses that can be taken sophomore through senior year. Through this program, students explore relevant topics, often self-selected, through assignments that build their presentation and written communication skills. 

The Capstone experience provides students with opportunities to develop skills that will enable them to any field of study and will be applicable to their experiences in college and the workforce. Former SBHS Capstone students have participated in fellowship programs and academic research as soon as they enter college. Students are also eligible to submit their research for publication in scholarly journals.  

GREAT TIME MANAGEMENT SKILLS

  • understands class attendance is paramount  

  • is flexible and does not procrastinate 

  • respects the value of each assignment

  • submits completed work on time

PERSONAL DESIRE TO BE IN PRE-AP/AP COURSES

  • is motivated, determined, and committed

  • thrives on challenges

SELF-MOTIVATED

  • problem solver who will practice to mastery 

  • will spend time in and out of the classroom preparing for the AP exam

STRONG WORK ETHIC

  • willing to tackle workload with no excuses 

  • is able to push oneself outside of comfort zone

  • understands that the work is cumulative

  • will complete summer work

SBHS offers a variety of pre-AP and AP Courses across disciplines. Typically, honors courses are taken in the 9th/10th grades, while AP Courses are generally taken in 11th/12th grade.

Advanced Courses Offered

Science

  • Biology Honors (9th/10th)

  • Chemistry Honors (10th/11th)

  • AP Computer Science Principles (10th-12th)

  • AP Biology (typically 12th)

Math

  • Algebra 1 Honors (9th)

  • Geometry Honors (9th/10th)

  • Algebra 2/Trig Honors (10th/11th)

  • AP Calculus (typically 12th)

English

  • English Honors (9th)

  • English Honors (10th)

  • AP English Language and Composition (11th)

  • AP English Literature and Composition (12th)

  • AP Capstone 

    • AP Seminar (10th-12th)

    • AP Research (11th-12th)

Spanish

  • Spanish 2 Honors (10th)

  • Spanish 3 Honors (11th)

History

  • World History Honors (10th)

  • AP United States History (11th)

  • AP Government (12th)

AP Capstone Program

This unique program provides students with an opportunity to engage with real-life issues through discussion, research, writing and presentation.

The Capstone Program is comprised of 2 year-long courses that can be taken sophomore through senior year. Through this program, students explore relevant topics, often self-selected, through assignments that build their presentation and written communication skills. 

The Capstone experience provides students with opportunities to develop skills that will enable them to any field of study and will be applicable to their experiences in college and the workforce. Former SBHS Capstone students have participated in fellowship programs and academic research as soon as they enter college. Students are also eligible to submit their research for publication in scholarly journals.  

“Capstone is a college-level course, where you can make college-level mistakes and not have to suffer college-level consequences."

- Blake Bittorf, Class of 2021

Blake is currently studying at St. Lawrence University, majoring in Economics and Mathematics with minors in Chinese and Hispanic Studies.

What do I need to know about AP Capstone? 

  • You can earn special certificates from College Board 

    • AP Seminar and Research Certificate (pass both AP Seminar and AP Research Exams)

    • AP Capstone Diploma (pass both AP Capstone Exams and 4 additional AP Exams)

  • You will stand out during the college application process and develop skills to be successful in any college major

  • Current 9th, 10th, 11th grade students are eligible to apply 

    • Applications are available during the 3rd Quarter prior to entering the program

    • You do not need to be an honors or current AP student to apply, but you should have strong writing and reading skills

"Other AP courses teach knowledge beneficial for life; the AP Capstone Program teaches skills beneficial for life. The challenges during the AP Capstone Program come from self-investment into your work and research. If one is considering to take AP courses at Saint Bonaventure, the AP Capstone Program should be a high consideration." 

- William Ledesma, Class of 2021

Class of 2021 Valedictorian, Will is currently studying at Vanderbilt University, deciding between a major in pre-med or pre-law, and minoring in business

If you have any questions about the AP Capstone Program at SBHS,
please email Mrs. Horan.