Academic Levels
UPPER SCHOOL COURSE LEVELSCOLLEGE PREPARATORY
College preparatory courses are designed to help students build the important skills that will prepare them for future college studies. (Examples: English 10, Calculus, Physics, French 2, US History.)
College preparatory courses are designed to help students build the important skills that will prepare them for future college studies. (Examples: English 10, Calculus, Physics, French 2, US History.)
EXTENDED
Extended courses (math department only) offer an additional layer of challenge while still focusing on foundational skills. Course titles begin with “Extended,” and there is a designation of “Enr” on the transcript. (Examples: Extended Geometry, Extended Precalculus.)
Extended courses (math department only) offer an additional layer of challenge while still focusing on foundational skills. Course titles begin with “Extended,” and there is a designation of “Enr” on the transcript. (Examples: Extended Geometry, Extended Precalculus.)
HONORS
Honors courses offer the highest level of challenge in a given course sequence. Course titles begin with “Honors,” and there is a designation of “Hon” on the transcript. (Examples: Honors Chemistry, Honors Spanish 2, Honors Algebra 2.)
Honors courses offer the highest level of challenge in a given course sequence. Course titles begin with “Honors,” and there is a designation of “Hon” on the transcript. (Examples: Honors Chemistry, Honors Spanish 2, Honors Algebra 2.)
ADVANCED
Advanced courses are taught at the level of a college class. Some, though not all, prepare students for the Advanced Placement exam in the subject, if the students choose to take it. Course titles begin with “Advanced,” and there is a designation of “Adv” on the transcript. (Examples: Advanced Humanities, Advanced Mechatronics, Advanced Spanish Literature, Advanced US History, Advanced Organic Chemistry, Advanced Linear Algebra.)
BEYOND APPotomac has developed rigorous offerings and interdisciplinary opportunities that more closely align with our educational philosophy and address our students' needs. In the 2019-20 school year, Potomac began to introduce new advanced courses to offer students an opportunity to take a college-level course not offered within the AP curriculum. As of the 2022-23 school year, Potomac will no longer offer AP courses. Instead, teachers have transitioned those courses to Potomac’s own advanced level, and the School’s College Profile as well as student transcripts reflect the rigor of courses with that designation. Potomac will continue to be an AP test center and offer students the opportunity to take AP exams in May if they choose to, and most advanced courses will give students solid preparation for the relevant exam.