Milwaukee High School of the Arts (MHSA) is proud to offer three levels of Advanced Placement (AP) to extend the experience throughout high school.
Pre-AP
All MHSA freshmen are automatically enrolled in Pre-AP classes. The Pre-AP Program offers consistent, high standards in focused courses that help build, strengthen, and reinforce students’ content knowledge and skills. Pre-AP courses aim to increase the number of students who take AP classes and complete college-level coursework before leaving high school.
Available Courses
Pre-AP classes are designed to be the standard course in each subject. At MHSA, we offer the following Pre-AP courses:
- Arts
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Dance
- English 9
- English 10
- Music Theory
- Theatre
- Visual Art
- World History and Geography
Benefits
Pre-AP is about achieving results for all students and increasing their college readiness. The program does that through:
- Engaging resources to meet students where they are
- Meaningful assessments to show teachers where each student needs additional support and focus
- Effective practice opportunities to build, strengthen, and master content knowledge and skills
- Flexibility for teachers to honor their skill and authority
- Challenging coursework to emphasize key skills across all subjects and reinforce them through classroom experiences
Guiding Principles
- Academic conversations
- Close observation and analysis
- Evidence-based writing
- Higher-order questioning
“Pre-AP teaches advanced skills that help to make more difficult material understandable. It has been very helpful to be able to apply these skills across the different classes that I have.”
Advanced Placement
At MHSA, students are passionate about dedicating themselves to their art. In addition to the immersive study of their major, many of them also desire to excel academically. Advanced Placement® (AP) classes allow motivated students to pursue a rigorous, college-level academic curriculum while still in high school. Students take classes taught by MHSA staff, then show their understanding through post-course exams that can result in college credit.
Available Courses
- Arts: AP 2D Art and Design, AP Drawing, AP Music Theory
- Capstone Diploma Program: AP Research, AP Seminar
- English: AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition
- History and Social Sciences: AP Government, AP Psychology, AP United States History, AP African American Studies
- Math: AP Statistics
- World Languages: AP Spanish
Benefits
AP classes stand out on college applications. Transcripts that include AP courses show that students have challenged themselves with the most rigorous courses available. Success in AP courses indicates that they are ready for and will be successful in college-level coursework.
Successful exams earn college credit and/or allow students to skip introductory college courses. Most four-year colleges and universities in the United States (and many abroad) recognize the rigor of AP classes. Students can get credit, place out of required classes, or both for qualifying AP Exam scores.
Exams
Each AP course concludes with an AP Exam that is administered at MHSA. These assessments are designed by the same experts who designed the courses. The exams are scored on a scale of 1 to 5 by college and university professors and experienced AP teachers. Many higher education institutions offer credit for AP Exam scores of 3 or higher.
AP Capstone
AP Capstone is an innovative diploma program that complements other AP courses, further challenges our highest achievers, and rewards students for their hard work. Through this program, students hone their independent research, collaboration, and communication skills.
Available Courses
The program is broken down into two year-long courses:
AP Seminar
Students typically take AP Seminar as sophomores or juniors. In this class, students investigate real-world issues from multiple perspectives. They gather and analyze information from various sources in order to develop credible and valid evidence-based arguments.
AP Research
Students who successfully complete AP Seminar learn how to conduct independent research. This prepares them to produce and defend their own scholarly work now and in the future.
Recognition
Upon completion of AP Seminar and AP Research, students are recognized at different levels depending on their AP Exam performance.
- AP Seminar and Research Certificate™: Score of 3 or higher on AP Seminar and AP Research Exams
- AP Capstone Diploma™: The same, PLUS a score of 3 or higher on four additional AP Exams of their choosing
The AP Capstone Diploma is accepted by many colleges and universities for up to 18 college credits.
“AP Capstone allows our students to engage in authentic research opportunities that prepare them for the rigors of college and the workforce. As dynamic and creative artists, our students are uniquely prepared for this curriculum.”