Advanced Course Offerings

PHS has several options for advanced course offerings that enable students to earn college credit while in high school. These options include dual credit classes, AP classes and Expanded Options. Read the details below to know what options are best for your student.

Dual Credit Classes

Dual Credit = earning high school credit AND college credit at the same time through one class taught at PHS.

PHS Classes Offering Dual Credits (22-23 school year):

Cost of Dual Credit (this amount may change year to year):

• BMCC: $20/credit
• EOU $40/credit

Registration for Dual Credit: To register, a student needs to be enrolled in the PHS class first. The teacher for that specific class will notify students of the dates & process of registration.

AP (Advanced Placement) Classes

AP (Advanced Placement) is a program of classes developed by the College Board to give high school students an introduction to college-level classes and also gain college credit before even graduating high school. These courses are more difficult than the usual high school class and also require passing an AP exam at the end of the year to gain college credit.

AP exams are tests on everything you’ve learned in your AP class that year. They’re scored on a scale from 1 to 5, with any score above 3 considered passing, though some colleges will only accept 4’s and 5’s for credit. Taking AP courses and passing the tests are signs that you’re prepared for college and can put you at the top of the list for admissions if you’re smart about which ones to take.

 Why take an AP Class instead of a regular high school class?

1. Prepare for College – AP classes can be as challenging as intro college courses. They are fast-paced, cover more material than regular classes and require independent work like research and analysis. Challenging yourself with a more rigorous class can help ease your transition from high school to college.
2. Rise to the top of the pile – AP classes show admission officers and scholarship committees that you’re ready for college-level work. Good grades and academic rigor are often the most important factors when evaluating college and scholarship applications.
3. Strengthen your transcript – PHS gives extra weight to AP grades when calculating your weighted GPA. Taking an AP class and getting a B is often a better choice than getting an A in a regular course. *only good for the Class of 2025 and older
4. Get a head start on college credits – most colleges will award college credits from AP exams with a score of 3 or higher. In addition, some of the AP classes at PHS award college credit just from taking the class and don’t require the AP exam. Check the PHS Curriculum Guide for classes offered at PHS. And check with the specific colleges you’re interested in how they accept AP exam scores.

AP Classes available at PHS for the 2023-24 school year:

AP Biology

AP World History

AP US History*

AP US Government and Politics*

AP Calculus AB/BC (note: students must complete both years to take the AP Exam)

AP Language and Composition*

AP Literature and Composition

*These AP classes do not require an AP Test score for college credit as they are also Dual Credit Classes through BMCC.

Expanded Options

Expanded Options = Enrolling in a BMCC* course that included curriculum not offered at PHS. A student will earn credit at both BMCC & PHS. Coursework is completed during a class period designated in the student’s schedule as BMCC Expanded Options. Extra paperwork is required for a student to be approved for this program.

*Discounted tuition

Time & Effort Required

• The average 3/4 credit course will require 8-12 hours of work per week.
• College courses have STRICT DUE DATES and will NOT accept late work.
• College courses expect students to read the syllabus – be aware of and ready for ALL due dates without reminders from a teacher.

If you have questions, please contact Ron Murphy in the Counseling Office.  541-966-3852 or email