AP Program

Bishop O'Connell offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses, covering 29 subject areas for AP testing:

Art/Drawing
Art History
Biology
Calculus AB
Calculus BC
Chemistry
Comparative Political Systems
Computer Science
English Language
English Literature
Environmental Science
French Language
German Language
Human Geography
Latin

Macroeconomics
Microeconomics
Modern European History
Music Theory
Physics 1
Physics 2
Physics C (C&M)
Physics C (Mechanical)
Psychology
Spanish Language
Spanish Literature
Statistics
U.S. Government
U.S. History

Requirements

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.


2022 AP Scholars

In May 2022, 552 students took 1045 AP exams covering 28 subject areas.

174 Bishop O'Connell students were recognized as AP Scholars, receiving scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP exams. Included in this number are the following honorees:

45 AP Scholars with Distinction, receiving an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.

39 AP Scholars with Honor, receiving an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams.

In addition, one student was awarded an AP International Diploma. Read more...


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 information on the Program of Studies page.

Meet Our Graduates

Danny C.

Bishop O'Connell is my home. It is where I met my best friends, was challenged academically, and encouraged to pursue and share my passions. I am so thankful to be able to say that I am part of the O'Connell community!

- Danny C. '19
(Duke University)
Read more...