Benefits of advanced, honors, AP and dual credit courses

Effective July 1, 2024, a new state Education Law requires that districts across New York make students and families aware of the advanced coursework options that are offered in our schools.

Participation in advanced classes, such as honors classes, college-level classes like AP or dual credit classes, or classes taken at a college offer many advantages, which include:

• providing opportunities for students to acquire skills and demonstrate abilities;
• preparing students for college coursework;
• earning college credit(s) for successful completion of courses while in high school;
• reducing future costs for higher education; and
• creating the opportunity for students to graduate from college earlier.

In Watervliet, advanced courses for math begin in grade 7. Students have the opportunity to take a math placement test in grade 6. The outcome of the placement test combined with students’ cumulative math grades and teacher recommendation determine if a student is eligible for the advanced math course.

Advance courses for English Language Arts (ELA) begins in grade 8. Students overall grades in ELA and teacher recommendations are used to determine who is eligible to take English 9 as an eighth-grade student.

At the high school level, an Advanced Placement (AP) course is offered in math for pre-calculus. Students who have completed Algebra, Geometry and Algebra II may enroll in this AP course.

Dual Credit College Courses are offered in collaboration with Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC). College credit is available to high school students for a reduced fee. Students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch may be eligible for a scholarship that would help cover the cost of the course. Most colleges accept these courses as elective credits. Students are often able to graduate a year early from college by taking and passing dual credit courses.

Courses offered include:

• Computer Aid Design (4 credits)
• Calculus (4 credits)
• Contemporary Novel (3 credits)
• African American Literature (3 credits)
• Communications (3 credits)
• Media and Culture (3 credits)
• Short Fiction (3 credits)
• Poetry and Song (3 credits)
• American National Government and Economics (6 credits)
• American History 1 and 2 (6 credits)
• Intermediate Algebra (3 credits)
• Elementary Statistics (3 credits)
• Marketing (3 credits)
• Advertising (3 credits)
• Business Communications (3 credits)
• Spanish IV (3 credits)

If you have questions about advanced coursework, please reach out to your child’s school counselor. Contact information is available on the counseling page of the WJSHS website.