Advanced Programs
Advanced Placement Program
The Advanced Placement Program is administered by College Board. Colleges and Universities have varying policies regarding acceptance of Advanced Placement grades. Students should contact the individual schools they are considering in order to garner specific details. Each AP course requires at least one hour of homework daily. It is a college level course. Students applying for acceptance into an AP course must consider the stringent expectations, independent nature of study, and heavy workload before course selection is completed.
Students also must understand that they are not permitted to drop an AP class after August 31st. Acceptance into Advanced Placement Courses will be based on GPA, class rank,course grades, Renaissance Testing scores, PSAT scores, and teacher recommendations.
Students interested in Advanced Placement courses must apply to the specific Department Chair.
Final approval is determined by the Department Chair and the Assistant Principal for Academic Affairs. In addition, students enrolled in Advanced Placement Courses are required to:
1. Complete Advanced Placement summer assignment(s).
2. Take the Advanced Placement Examination as prepared by College Board. The cost of each exam, determined by College Board, is the responsibility of the student. The
approximate cost for each exam as of May 2026 is $99.
St Thomas More Honor Program Application
St. Thomas More Honors Program
Guiding Principles: • Love of Learning- Students need to be prepared for the ever changing world that is ahead of them. The best way to prepare students for the future is to instill in them a love of learning and the skills they need to learn successfully in any situation. • Project Based Learning- We would like to educate the whole person by facilitating experiences for the students to learn in an organic way.
Project based learning will be the norm in their Saint Thomas More classes. Ideally, the students will develop a solution to a problem that they recognize.
• Service- In conjunction with our Catholic identity is our need to serve others. We would like to introduce service to the community. Students will participate in service projects around school and in their community.
Highlights of the St. Thomas More Honors Program: • A uniquely developed curriculum to support growth in key areas. • Project-Based Learning • Peer Mentoring Application Process After registration to Archbishop Wood High School, an additional application process would begin: • Students will complete a Saint Thomas More Application. • After submitting the application, students will be selected to interview based on their aptitude, as well as their abilities that are not necessarily measurable in a classroom i.e. service, leadership skills, participation in extra-curricular activities. • If they meet these rigorous standards, they will be invited to interview with Mr. Chandler, the Saint Thomas More Program Head. At the time of the interview, they will also complete a written essay and math/reading skills assessment. The results of the interview, strength of transcripts, written essay and skills assessment will determine eligibility for the program.
Diocesan Scholars Program
Every year, the top thirty juniors in their class are invited to participate in the Diocesan Scholar program through the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Students participate in an application and interview process to be accepted into the scholar program. Students often select from a premier group of local Catholic universities for their coursework. Students and their families do not incur course costs; they are responsible only for the cost of the text materials. Catholic colleges and universities provide this opportunity in partnership with Catholic high schools to support their shared values in Catholic education.
The Office of Catholic Education believes this program offers some of our best students an experience in a collegiate environment while allowing them to pursue educational opportunities in their high school. If accepted, the scholar will take two 3-credit college courses each semester, totaling 12 credits. Courses taken at the college are considered electives by the high school, and the scholar must receive a passing grade in each course to be eligible for graduation.
Archbishop Wood has multiple students who are Diocesan Scholars attending classes at LaSalle University, Villanova University, Chestnut Hill College, Gwynedd Mercy University and Holy Family University!
