AP Program

AP course preparation is available in English Language, English Literature, Spanish Language, Spanish Literature, French Language, Latin Literature, Calculus AB, Statistics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics B, Physics C (E&M), Physics C (Mechanical), Environmental Science, European History, United States History, United States Government, Psychology, Macro Economics, Micro Economics, Art/Drawing, Art History, Music Theory, Computer Science.

Students requesting to take any Advanced Placement (AP) course must attend a meeting with their parents and the AP instructors prior to registering for the course. The mandatory meeting is held in February during course selection time. A contract must be signed by the student and his/her parents before the student will be scheduled for the desired course. All students in AP courses are required to take the AP Examination at the conclusion of the course.

In May 2009, 406 students sat for 849 AP Exams in 26 subject areas. A total of 84 students qualified for AP recognition:

National AP Scholar Awards - 3
AP Scholars with  Distinction - 21
AP Scholars with Honors - 10
AP Scholars - 50

Bishop O'Connell students are consistently ranked as National Merit Scholars. In the past five years, there have been 23 National Merit Semi-finalists and over 100 Commended Students from Bishop O'Connell.

Bishop O'Connell uses a ten-point grading scale. Additional points ("weight") is given toward a student's grade point average (GPA) for Advanced Placement and Honors courses. Please refer to the Grading System page for more information.