College Prep Courses:  4.0

A course that provides students foundational course work needed for graduation, college, and post-secondary experiences.

Honors Courses: 4.5

A course that is accelerated to cover more content than a College Prep Course or take a deeper dive into the content of a College Prep Course.  Students who want to take Honors Courses should request them during course selection.   They can speak with their school counselors and families to be sure they are prepared to commit the time needed to excel in these courses.  This time commitment varies depending on the individual learner and course content.

Early College Experience: 5.0

A course that is offered in partnership with partner colleges and universities for dual credit.  The curriculum for these courses is aligned with current courses being offered by partner colleges and universities.  Students have the potential to earn high school credit and college credit.  These courses take place at Wilbur Cross and are taught by Wilbur Cross teachers who have been authorized by the partner college or university to teach the Early College Experience course. 

Students are expected to diligently engage with all course work and spend time needed in order to learn course material.  There is not one single high stakes test needed for a student to earn the college credit.  At the end of the course, the grade is reported and both high school and college credits are issued.

Advanced Placement Courses: 5.0

A course that offers curriculum created by the College Board.  Students earn high school credit when they complete the course.  In May, students enrolled in AP courses are expected to sit for an AP Exam generated by the College Board and facilitated at the school.  If a student earns a qualifying score, the college or university the student attends may accept the course toward a required course within a program of study.  The decision to accept or not to accept scores is the decision of the college or university.  It is not the decision of the College Board nor the decision of Wilbur Cross High School.

Students are expected to diligently engage with all course work and spend the time needed to learn course material.   There is a single culminating high stakes exam that students must sit for during their scheduled exam period (typically the first two weeks in May) for their AP courses.  Students who do not take the AP Exam will have the course designation removed from their transcript and the course quality points will change to 4.5 instead of 5.0.   

College Before College Experience: 5.0