Thunderbird High School

Glendale Union High School District

Advanced Placement Program

What is the AP Program?
The Advanced Placement Program (AP) is a collaborative effort between motivated students, dedicated teachers, and committed high schools, colleges and universities. Since its inception in 1955, the program has allowed millions of students to take college-level courses and AP exams and to earn college credit or placement while still in high school. Each AP course has a corresponding exam that is administered in May. AP courses cover the breath of information, skills, and assignments found in the corresponding college course. Last year, Thunderbird administered 289 exams to 138 students in 13 different subject areas. Except for Studio Art, which is a portfolio assessment, AP exams contain multiple–choice questions and a free-response section (either essay or problem-solving). All students enrolled in an AP class will take the AP exam; Glendale Union High School District pays the cost of the exam.

Did you know?
  • Alok Patki, an AP student '02, (admitted to Harvard) entered University of Arizona as a junior.
  • Ryan Johnson, an AP student '02, (admitted to MIT) entered University of Arizona as a sophomore.
  • Giao Quach, an AP student '03, entered University of Arizona as a sophomore.
  • Carl Woog, an AP student '99, is now President of the Student Body at Boston University.
  • Maryn Herberg an AP student '02, is now President of the Sophomore Class at Emerson College.
  • Britton Schwartz, an AP student '97, graduated from Columbia and is now at Harvard Law School.
  • Marci Ikeler, an AP student '96, graduated from NYU in three years.
  • Victoria Harris, an AP student '96, graduated from Harvard in four years with her Masters Degree. Currently at Wharton School at Univ of Penn pursuing MBA.
  • Michael Metzger '98 an AP student, graduated summa cum laude from Cornell with a double major in Biochemistry & Philosophy
  • Elizabeth Harris '02, an AP student, is a Ben Franklin scholar at the University of Pennsylvania.
  • 100% of the students taking the AP Government test made a 3 or better.
  • 100% of the students submitting an AP Art portfolio made a 3 or better.
  • 100% of the students submitting an AP Art portfolio made a 3 or better.
  • 97% of the students in AP Calculus made a 3 or better.
  • In 2003, 179 exam scores would have received credit at the University of Arizona.
  • The class of 2002 had 5 National Merit Scholars and 2 Flinn Scholars.
  • The class of 2003 had 2 National Merit Scholars and 1 Flinn Scholar.

Sample Education Plan

Freshman Year
Honors/A English 1-2
Honors/A Math 1-4 (1)
Honors/A Biology
PE 1-2
Spanish 1-2 (2)
Art 1-2 or other elective (3)
Sophomore Year
Honors/A English 3-4
Honors/A Math 5-6
Honors/ A Chemistry
Honors/ A World History/Geography
Spanish 3-4
Art 3-4 or other elective
Junior Year
Honors/A English 5-6
Honors/A Pre Calculus
AP Biology (4)
AP US History
Honors/A Spanish 5-6
Adv. Art or other elective
Senior Year
AP English
AP Gov't/Free Enterprise
AP Calculus
AP Spanish
AP Physics (4)
AP Art or other elective