Advanced Placement (AP) and Capstone Program

What are AP Classes?

"AP classes give students the chance to tackle college-level work while they're still in high school and earn college credit and placement."

- College Board, creators of the Advanced Placement Program

Origins of Advanced Placement (AP) Classes

College Board is a mission-driven, not-for-profit organization connecting students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the College Board was created to expand access to higher education. Today, the membership association is made up of over 6,000 of the world’s leading educational institutions and is dedicated to promoting excellence and equity in education.

Each year, the College Board helps more than seven million students prepare for a successful transition to college through programs and services related to college readiness and college success—including the SAT, Advanced Placement Program, and BigFuture. The organization also serves the education community through research and advocacy on behalf of students, educators, and schools.

What Part of the AP Program is Offered at ISB?

At ISB, we offer the AP Capstone Diploma and a comprehensive selection of individual AP courses. AP classes can be taken from Grade 10 onwards, depending on the student's aspirations and abilities. The AP Capstone Diploma encompasses two mandatory courses, AP Seminar and AP Research, plus four other AP courses. Please check the full requirements and courses available in the High School Program of Studies.

Why Take the AP Capstone Diploma Course and/or AP Classes at ISB?

The Advanced Placement (AP) program at ISB allows students to pursue college-level classes and exams while still in high school. Students can take AP courses from Grade 10 onwards, though most students will take them in Grade 11-12. Each AP course at ISB is a yearlong course. The AP exam in May is required for the AP designation to be placed on the student transcript.

The AP Capstone program provides a rigorous academic experience, fostering research, collaboration, and communication skills. It prepares students for the challenges of higher education and beyond. Students pursuing the AP Capstone Diploma are required to take AP Seminar and AP Research, in addition to 4 other AP courses. To obtain the AP Capstone Diploma, students must earn a score of 3 or higher on all designated AP courses.

AP Capstone is a two-year program based on two AP courses—AP Seminar and AP Research. Other AP classes teach you, in-depth, about a specific subject, like biology or US history. AP Seminar and AP Research focus on helping you develop academic skills you can use in any discipline. 

These skills include:

Critical thinking: View issues from multiple perspectives and create arguments based on evidence

Collaboration: Work alone, in a group, and with expert advisers to communicate your ideas

Conducting research: Explore various research methods and complete research projects on topics of your choosing

Public speaking: Present and defend your work individually and as a group.