Grayling Viking University
The CASD welcomes you to Grayling Viking University (GVU), our program to individualize the education of our students to prepare them to be college- and career-ready and to help them earn free college and university credits prior to graduation through Advanced Placement® courses, early/middle college opportunities and career technical education courses. And through our unique 13th year program, students can actually earn a free associate's degree.
GVU at GES
GVU starts at Grayling Elementary School. Families are offered the choice of an Extended Learning Year (ELY) or Traditional Year (TY). ELY begins the second full week in August and runs through the end of June with three additional breaks built into the calendar. TY begins on the first Tuesday after Labor Day and continues through mid June. Each calendar offers rich, rigorous instruction to prepare students for middle school and beyond.
Students are provided differentiated instruction with a focus on literacy and math in every classroom. Academic intervention is provided at each grade level to ensure proficiency of essential learning. Our approach and focus are integrated, with both social studies and science, offering students "real life" field learning experiences.
The goal of GES programming is to provide the solid foundation students need to launch their secondary education experience.
GVU at GMS
At Grayling Middle School we thoroughly teach the state common core middle school curriculum. We also provide opportunities for students to take high school level classes at the middle school. We offer these courses, known as Advanced Placement® preparation courses, in the areas of:
- English - English 9A, English 9B
- Math - Algebra 1A, Algebra 1B, Geometry A, Geometry B
- Science - Physical Science A, Physical Science B
- Social Studies - World History A
- Spanish - Spanish 1A, Spanish 1B
Students who pass the AP prep courses at GMS earn credit toward high school graduation. Our AP prep courses allow a wider variety of opportunities for students when they reach the high school level. Our goal is to make sure all children are career- and college-ready for whatever paths they choose.
GVU at GHS
At Grayling High School, we offer the nationally recognized Advance Placement® program that gives students the opportunity to pursue college level courses while still in high school. An official examination created by the College Board for the specific Advanced Placement course is given at the end of each AP course. Based on the individual scores and the policies of the individual universities and colleges, students may earn college credit.
Also, through our partnerships with the Wexford-Missaukee Career Tech Center (CTC), we offer our students an early/middle college opportunity. They can earn an associate's degree by attending CTC their junior and senior years and their 13th year in college.
Students can choose from the following Early/Middle College Programs at Baker College:
- Business Management Administration - Associate of Business Degree, Business Administration
- Computers, Networking and Electronics Technology - Associate of Applied Science Degree Information Technology
- Engineering Technology - Precision Machining Technology Certificate
- Hospitality, Retailing and Entrepreneurship - Associate of Business Degree, Business Administration
- Introduction to Healthcare/Health Science Careers - Medical Assistant Certificate
- Metal Fabrication and Welding – Welding Certificate
- Public Safety - Associate of Applied Science Degree Criminal Justice
And we offer early/middle college programs through Kirtland Community College -- including public safety, welding and automotive -- in which students can earn certificates and associate degrees.
To learn more about these programs, students can speak with their counselors.
GVU at GLOE
Students who are enrolled with Great Lakes Online Education (GLOE) have a variety of ways to prepare for college:
- 8th graders can take AP® Preparatory classes where they can earn up to 4 high school credits to prepare for Advanced Placement (AP) courses.
- High school students can elect to take Advanced Placement (AP) courses offered through our partner high school (Grayling High School) or online.
- High school students can elect to take courses at Kirtland Community College to pursue degrees in their chosen fields of study.
- Students interested in career tech classes can choose from a variety of course offerings through our partnerships with the Wexford-Missaukee Career Tech Center, C.O.O.R. ISD and Kirtland Community College.
Parents and students are invited to talk with John Gantner (jgantner@casdk12.net) to learn more about these programs.
Reasons to Take Free Advanced Placement® (AP) Courses
Plan & Prepare to Succeed in College
Studies have shown that the rigor of a student's high school curriculum is the single best predictor of success in college. In his seminal study, "The Tool Box Revisited: Paths to Degree Completion from High School Through College" (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education, 2006), Clifford Adelman demonstrated that the academic intensity of a high school curriculum is essential to student success in college. Students who take AP courses learn a subject in depth, develop analytical reasoning skills and form disciplined study habits that can contribute to continued success at the college level.
Discover Your Capabilities
Taking an AP examination enables students to compare their knowledge and understanding of a college-level subject with the high academic standards established by college faculty. The challenge of meeting these national and international standards gives students a tremendous sense of accomplishment. The quality of the AP program and its participating schools is reflected in the fact that the National Education Goals Panel uses AP as a measure of academic excellence.
Stand Out in College Admissions
The National Association for College Admission Counseling's (NACAC) annual State of College Admissions survey consistently finds that student performance in college preparatory classes is the most important factor in the admission decision. College admissions personnel view AP experiences as one indicator of future success at the college level. Schools with successful AP programs are regarded as strong academic institutions, and their participation helps set a standard of achievement for students. Participation in an AP course is, therefore, a great advantage to a student who wishes to attend a highly selective college.
Save Money on Your Education
Most U.S. colleges and many international ones have an AP credit policy that allows students who have taken AP courses or exams to earn college credit, placement or both. Having earned college credit prior to enrolling in college can provide a significant savings in the overall cost of a bachelor’s degree. Course exemption gives students time to broaden their college experience by exploring additional subject areas, participating in internships and studying abroad, for example.
Dive Deeply into Subjects that Really Interest You
The most important reason of all may be that, with a year-long AP class, you have the opportunity to dig into topics that you really enjoy learning about. Do numbers “speak” to you? Take AP Calculus. Are you fascinated with medieval times or ancient battles? Try AP European History. Do you want to someday invent a new battery that lasts for years? Try AP Chemistry. Maybe you want to be involved with international business. Go for AP Spanish. The possibilities are endless.
Taking AP Courses
Students must have completed the appropriate GHS prerequisite course requirements and possess the necessary knowledge base prior to registering for AP courses. Final approval will be confirmed by the student’s counselor.
An AP course will be valued one full grade point higher than the grade received when the grade earned in the class is a C or above. (Example: A = 5.0 instead of 4.0, B = 4.0 instead of 3.0, etc. See "Grade Point Average and Honors" in the Student Handbook.) Students taking an AP course online will be given their grades by the online instructor, and those grades will also be weighted as described in the example. Students choosing to prepare for an AP test independently for AP courses that GHS does not offer may choose a letter grade or a CR/NR given by their mentor teacher, but the student will not receive a weighted grade.
Please see the specific course descriptions in each of the department listings for more details on the following courses: AP Biology, AP Calculus A/B, AP Calculus B/C, AP Chemistry, AP Computer Science A, AP European History, AP Language and Composition, AP Literature and Composition, AP Psychology, AP Spanish, AP Statistics and AP U.S. History.
Other AP tests are available too; please see your counselor for details.
