AP courses have long been the default option for HC students who want to take advanced classes for college credit. However, HC plans to offer more Dual Credit options in the near future. Both AP and Dual Credit classes are college classes and can grant college credits to high school students. An important difference between the two is that unlike Dual Credit, AP classes have a test at the end of the year that determines whether or not a student gets college credits for the class. (Different colleges require different scores in order for them to grant an AP credit). April Cain, the College and Career Readiness Coach at HC, feels that the addition of more Dual Credit classes is not a matter of preference, but an attempt to give students more choice in what higher level classes that they can take.

“I don’t really think “prefers” is the correct term,” Cain said. “AP classes came about long before Dual Credit did so we have more AP classes. Henry Clay has always tried to offer challenging classes to students.  We are adding more Dual classes to give students more options.”

By and large, Cain feels that both types of classes are great opportunities for students, and that personal considerations are needed to determine which type of class is right for a student.

“They are both very beneficial,” Cain said, “and with us currently only offering English & Math Dual Credit it’s a pretty individual situation on what would be recommended. For English, I would probably recommend Dual Credit for students attending college in Kentucky. Math depends on math ability and what classes a student has taken.”

AP and dual credit classes are both meant to challenge students, and to help them prepare for and succeed in college. Despite that, Cain feels that neither college applications or difficulty should be a consideration when choosing between AP and Dual Credit. 

“Both [AP and Dual Credit] are challenging college level classes,” Cain said, “so this isn’t going to cause a shift to one over the other.”

All in all, both AP and Dual Credit classes are both important opportunities for students, and Cain feels that HC will continue to make sure that students have ample options for college-level classes while in high school.