A Letter to AP Parents
April 17, 2008

Dear Parents:

            Mabank High School will be administering 166 AP tests in May.  Your child is one of 101 students scheduled to take at least one AP test.  Participating in our AP program has already provided significant benefits for your child.  The rich course material, classroom discussions, and demanding assignments help students develop the content mastery and critical thinking skills expected of college students.
            Taking an AP Exam allows our students to experience a college-level exam.  The work will be evaluated by the College Board.  Students risk nothing by taking an AP exam, but the rewards are high for those who do well on the test(s).  With qualifying AP Exam grades, students can earn credit, placement, or both at more than 90 percent of the four-year colleges and universities in the United States, as well as at colleges and universities in 40 other countries.
            Since college admissions offices put more value on the kinds of classes students take in high school rather than class rank or grade point average, your child’s high school curriculum vitae has already been enriched by his/her enrollment in AP classes.  Taking the AP test that correlates with each AP course further enhances your child’s transcript.
            Each student participating in this year’s AP testing program is responsible for paying $10.00 to help defray the $84.00 cost of each test.  If your child is taking more than one AP test, he/she will only need to pay one fee of $10.00.  Students will be excused from all of their classes on the day(s) they sit for AP Exams.
            Mabank High School is investing a great deal of money in order to provide our AP students with the opportunity to participate in this final step of the AP program.  It is important, therefore, that students arrive on time for their scheduled tests and endeavor to do as well as possible.  If a student is not in attendance for a test that has been purchased specifically for him/her, that student will owe Mabank High School the full $84.00 purchase price of the test(s).
            We are excited about our growing numbers in the AP program, and we are glad to afford our students with this opportunity to evaluate their knowledge and skills on a college level.  The results from these tests will be beneficial as our students explore their college options.  Thank you for your support of our AP program.

Sincerely,
Dr. Thomas A. Wallis
Principal