The previous night, senior Erica Olson studied for an Advanced Placement U.S. History test. She stayed up until one a.m. reviewing the material. The exams are long and strenuous, with essays and multiple-choice questions. She is taking this class for college credit but often wonders if the stress is worth it.
“For the most part, AP classes are specifically for a major. I wouldn’t take an AP bio class if it’s not what I’m interested in, and the CCP math I’m taking right now is just so I do not have to take it in college,” Olson said.
CCP classes and AP are both follow college-level curriculum but have major differences. Students say CCP classes are easier, but AP classes are more beneficial for admission to private universities.
College Credit Plus (CCP)
The Granville High School curriculum has introduced CCP or college credit plus classes. This year is the first time they have been offered at the high school and taught by our teachers.
The school pays for CCP classes, including tuition and books. Students only have to pass the class to get college credit. Granville High School’s CCP program is through Shawnee State, COTC and Ashland Univeristy, but they are taught by teachers at the high school. For example, senior English teacher Elizabeth Simmons teaches College Composition and Rhetoric 1, and JR Wait teaches one of the college government classes.
“If you’re looking to get out of a freshman class in a state school, then CCP is a class for you,” Simmons said.
CCP classes have many pros but many colleges do not take the credit. Typically, state universities and the schools where the classes are being taken are the only institutions that will accept the credit.
For example, senior John Whiting is applying to Denison as his top choice, but they do not take CCP credits.
“The one I’m taking right now is the CCP English, and honestly I’m okay with re-taking the class [in college},” Whiting said.
Simmons believes students appreciate that CCP classes are more self-directed, and there is more freedom.
“[CCP students] pick topics based on their own personal interests,” Simmons said.
There are prerequisites for students to take CCP classes. Shawnee State students who have not taken the ACT have to take an Accuplacer test, their GPA needs to be 3.0 or over and students need to complete an application for the school.
Advanced Placement (AP)
Granville offers 18 AP classes. The AP curriculum is the same throughout the United States, making it more widely accepted at out-of-state colleges and private universities. The classes are more valuable for college majors and at the same rigorous level as college academics.
“There is more of a national standard for AP, but you should be getting the same AP curriculum if you’re taking the class here, or if you’re taking the class in California,” English and social studies teacher Dana Decker said.
Some students, like senior E. Jesse, do not appreciate the stress that comes with AP classes. The grades are weighted, so the more weight on the assignment, the more importance it holds on the students’ grades. On top of that, students are expected (though not required) to take a test at the end of the year. They must pay for the test themselves and get a three or more out of five to get college credit for the class.
“The whole testing system is just stressful,” E. Jesse said. “We shouldn’t test people like that, because it’s hard and stressful and I don’t think it accurately shows what you’ve learned,”
Both are impactful and useful to a high school student but the consensus is that AP is better. However, both Whiting and Jesse think that CCP classes would be more popular if more were offered in the building.
“There aren’t many other CCP options right now, but…the fact that we have more AP classes right now than we do CCP, I prefer AP,” Whiting said.
