2009-2010 Fall Honor Roll
San Marin Offers 12 Advanced Placement course and 5 Honors courses for School Year 2008-2009:
ADVANCED PLACEMENT
AP Biology
AP Chemistry
AP Language & Composition
AP Microeconomics
AP Statistics
AP United States History
AP Art History
AP French (French 4 Honors)
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AP Physics
AP Calculus
AP Literature and Composition
AP American Government
AP Spanish 5
AP Studio Art 2-D
AP Studio Art 3-D |
HONORS PROGRAM
English 9 Honors
World History Honors
Drama 4 Honors |
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English 10 Honors
French 4 Honors (AP French) |
43 San Marin Students Awarded AP SCHOLAR Status
Prospective Student Shadowing Opportunity
AP Courses, Honors Courses, Rankings - Article by Assistant Principal, Ms. Megan Pettis - November, 2008
The class of 2009 is beginning the college application process. Students have received a copy of their complete transcript for coursework completed, including their rank in the class. With this information, questions arise about how class rank is done and what it really means in regards to the college application process, and also how our valedictorian and salutatorian are chosen.
Students are ranked based on their weighted total grade point average. This takes into consideration weighted value for grades earned in AP classes (A=5, B=4, C=3, etc), as compared to non-weighted grade points earned in non-AP/Honors classes (A=4, B=3, C=2, etc.). Honors taken during 11th and 12th grade are weighted. Students who have the exact same weighted GPA (to four decimal places) share a rank. Ranking is done in the fall for the purpose of college applications, and then again after final spring semester grades are submitted, for overall ranking in the graduating class.
Some students are concerned with the effect that taking non-weighted grade classes has on their overall GPA. For example, students may choose to not take an elective class during their senior year just to have a higher GPA for college entrance purposes. “Is this a good idea?” is a question that administrators and counselors are asked. The answer is it really depends on what your post-high school goals are. For some colleges, GPA and Ranking are very important, while most colleges look at the “whole picture”, in other words, does the student have something to offer the college other than academics.
It is important to know that the Master Plan for higher education in California has “established an admissions principal of universal access and choice, assigning UC to select its freshman students from the top one-eighth (12.5%) of the high school graduating class and CSU from the top one-third (33.3%)”. What this means is that ranking is not a factor for UC/CSU admissions. Students are compared to all other graduating students in the state of California, based on their completion of UC/CSU a-g approved courses, so for some schools greater that the percents identified above will be eligible for freshman admissions.
In regards to the selection of class valedictorian and salutatorian, this process takes place after the end of the first semester of the senior year. The formula for determination of valedictorian and salutatorian includes starting with a non-weighted GPA, then looking at the total number of AP and Honors classes that a student has taken during their entire four years in high school. Students are not penalized for taking more of fewer total courses. To be considered for valedictorian and salutatorian students must: have taken a minimum of five AP/Honors courses; been a full time student for all of 11th and 12th grade; students must take a minimum of six classes during 9th, 10th, and 11th grade and a minimum of five classes during 12th grade; students will not be disadvantaged by taking more than the minimum number of classes and earning A’s. The valedictorian is the student who ranks 1 based on above criteria and the salutatorian is the student who ranks 2 based on the above criteria.
We strongly encourage all students to be involved in as many academic and extra-curricular experiences as possible during their time at San Marin High School, and to have these experiences documented on the student’s transcript. Competitive colleges look at co-curricular and extra-curricular activities as a means of differentiating one student from another when determining which students they accept..
43 San Marin Students Awarded AP Scholar Status in 2008
The AP Board honored 43 San Marin students as AP Scholars in September for their outstanding scores on last year’s AP exams.
In addition to the 20 San Marin students who received grades of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams, 2 received a national scholar award for earning an average grade of at least 4 on all AP exams taken and grades of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams, 13 received a distinction award for earning an average grade of 3.5 or higher on all AP Exams taken and grades of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. 8 received honors award for scoring an average grade of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams.
In addition to receiving an award certificate, this achievement is acknowledged on any AP Grade Report that is sent to colleges the following fall.
Prospective Student Shadowing Opportunity
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AP / Honors Program 
