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Make Honors Count with AP

Turning strong honors courses into AP can make existing rigor more visible in the college admissions process. AP gives colleges a clearer, nationally recognized signal of advanced academic work and shows that a student has taken on college-level coursework and wants the opportunity to earn college credit, advanced placement, or both.

Recommended Courses and Their Honors Equivalents

Instead of adding new AP courses to a full schedule, replace existing honors sections with AP using your current staff and master schedule. The result is simple: Your school can give advanced academic work more value and visibility while supporting students as they pursue strong college options.

CourseEasy Swap forCollege Course Equivalent
AP BiologyBiology 11H, Biology 12HTwo-semester college introductory biology course for biology majors   
AP Calculus ABCalculus 11H, Calculus 12HFirst-semester college calculus course
AP English Language and CompositionEnglish 11H, English 12HIntroductory college rhetoric and writing curriculum
English Literature and CompositionEnglish 11H, English 12HIntroductory college-level literature and writing curriculum
AP MacroeconomicsMacroeconomics 11H, Macroeconomics 12HOne-semester introductory college course in economics 
AP MicroeconomicsMicroeconomics 11H, Microeconomics 12HOne-semester introductory college course in economics
AP Physics 1: Algebra-BasedPhysics 11H, Physics 12HFirst course in an introductory college sequence in algebra-based physics
AP PrecalculusPrecalculus 11H, Precalculus 12HFirst-semester college precalculus course
AP U.S. Government and PoliticsGovernment 11H, Government 12HIntroductory college course in U.S. government and politics
AP U.S. HistoryU.S. History 11H, U.S. History 12HTwo-semester introductory college course in U.S. history

Let us show you how this approach can help support your school's goals. Request information. 

How These Courses Can Work in Your School 

  • Replace, not rebuild: Swap an existing course with its AP equivalent—using the staff, schedule, and structures you already have. 

What These Courses Enable 

  • Alignment: Stronger connection between your AP offerings and your school’s goals   

  • Easy Implementation: Opportunity to use existing courses, staff, and schedules    

  • Availability: Chance for more students to strengthen the academic record they present to colleges  

  • Growth: Focused way to grow AP by adding the courses right for your school   

Why This Matters 

Because AP is stronger and easier for colleges to interpret than honors alone, making honors count with AP enhances your honors program. Give students the opportunity to stand out in college admissions. 

Complete the AP course interest form to get connected and explore more approaches to start or expand your AP program. 

Resources

Let us help you identify the best approach to support your school’s goals.