Fast Track Your Post-Secondary Coursework with the EIPS Advanced Placement Program

Advanced Placement students take part in a science lab at Bev Facey Community High.

Sherwood Park, AB. — The Advanced Placement (AP) program at Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) empowers high school students in gaining a head start on their academic journey. “The benefits of AP are without a doubt real and measurable,” says Carter Hoefling, a Grade 11 student in the program at Bev Facey Community High. “Aside from taking higher level classes to challenge yourself, the real-life benefits are beyond worth the extra workload. You gain experience that prepares you for post-secondary success, ranging from course credits to an insight into advanced coursework.”

AP is an internationally recognized and academically rigorous program that allows high school students to receive credit and advanced placement at every English-speaking university within Canada and nearly all colleges and universities in the United States. AP can be used for admissions, credit or both in 450 institutions across 75 other countries and regions around the world.

“The AP community at Facey is unlike any other schools I’ve attended,” says Hoefling. “You’re supported by regular and consistent people who have a drive to do well and succeed similar to you. The teachers are also phenomenal, always offering extra help and wanting you to succeed.”

Students can follow four steps in their AP journey: sign up for an AP course, take the course, write the exam and send their score to the post-secondary institution they’ll attend. AP exams are rated on a five-point scale—typically, a score of 4 or 5 can be used as credit for many equivalent introductory courses at high-ranking universities. Several other universities and colleges also recognize a score of 3. This can allow students to skip an introductory level course and fast track their post-secondary learning. These opportunities are specific to each university and college.

EIPS students can choose from a diverse AP course list:

Art and Design
Biology
Calculus AB
Chemistry
Computer Science A
Computing Science Principles
English Language and Composition
English Literature and Composition
French Language and Culture
Music Theory
Physics 1
Physics 2
Research
Seminar
Statistics

Bev Facey also offers an AP Capstone program. “This program develops students’ critical thinking, research, collaboration, writing and presentation skills through a multi-disciplined and student-centered curriculum,” says Josh Willard, an AP Capstone and AP Biology teacher at the school. “They examine real-world issues and create evidenced-based arguments while analyzing credibility of information. This program not only prepares students for studying in post-secondary by developing academic skills needed to be successful but also increases their confidence to present and research information. This helps them stand out to universities and colleges around the world.”

Interested students and families are invited to attend an upcoming AP information session:

Event Details:
Date: Jan. 23, 2025
Time: 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Location: Bev Facey Community High
99 Colwill Blvd., Sherwood Park, AB

The AP program is currently offered from grades 10-12 at Bev Facey Community High. New and returning students may apply to the AP program during the registration process beginning in February. For key registration dates, see the EIPS Guide to Registration 2025-26.

Elk Island Public Schools is one of Alberta’s largest school divisions, serving approximately 17,950 students in 42 schools. We are proud to be an integral part of our communities, including Sherwood Park, Fort Saskatchewan, Vegreville, Strathcona and Lamont counties, and the western portion of the County of Minburn.

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For more information, media can contact:
Laura McNabb, Director, Communication Services, EIPS 780-417-8204 cell 780-405-4902