Frequently Asked Questions

What prompted this change?

• Inspired by the January 2016 publication of Turning the Tide by the Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Making Caring Common Project, Campbell Hall directly addressed a growing concern raised during our multi-year strategic planning process and echoed in schools across the country: whether the College Board’s AP classes place too much emphasis on test preparation, thereby stifling students’ curiosity. In response, the Campbell Hall Advanced Inquiry (CHAI) program was developed, offering students college-level courses through a meaningful, rigorous exploration of a discipline.
  
  

What was the redesign process?

What is the difference between CHAI courses and AP courses?

• CHAI and AP courses are both college-level courses that represent the highest level of study in a particular discipline.
• CHAI courses have been designed by Campbell Hall using a specific set of criteria that align with the school’s educational philosophy, whereas AP courses use a standardized curriculum designed by the College Board.
  
  

What is the difference between CHAI courses and the honors courses Campbell Hall already offers?

• CHAI courses represent the highest level of advanced study in a particular discipline and are recognized as such by the UC system and private/public colleges and universities.
• An honors course is an advanced-level course often taken as part of the discipline’s sequence culminating in a CHAI or AP course (for example, Physics Honors will often be taken before CHAI Physics with Calculus Honors, the culminating class in the physics sequence.)
  
  

Are the CHAI courses approved by the University of California?

• Yes, all CHAI courses are UC-approved and carry the same honors designation as AP classes.
  
  

Are the CHAI classes as rigorous as AP courses?

• Yes, CHAI courses are college-level courses that represent the highest level of study in a particular discipline.
  
  

Will students enrolled in CHAI courses be prepared to sit for the College Board’s AP exams in those subjects?

• This will vary from course to course.
• CHAI courses are not designed to prepare students for the College Board’s AP exams; however, in some cases, the material covered may enable them to do so.
  
  

Will Campbell Hall administer AP exams for AP courses not offered at Campbell Hall?

• No. However, students interested in taking AP exams for courses not offered at Campbell Hall can still take the exam by registering at a different AP testing site.
  
  

How do students earn placement into CHAI courses?

• Students earn placement using the same criteria as any advanced-level course in the secondary school (via their Trimester 1 and 2 grades from the previous academic year).
• CHAI courses are offered at the same grade levels as the corresponding AP courses they replace.
  
  

Are other high schools taking steps like this?

• Many of the nation’s top independent schools are reexamining their advanced curricular offerings. Some have abandoned the Advanced Placement program altogether, some have combined AP with their own redesigned courses, and others have decided to retain the AP program in its entirety.
• Campbell Hall is part of a larger movement to reimagine education by strengthening the connection between the school’s mission and its curriculum, a connection that has always been a hallmark of our school. Our memberships in organizations such as the Independent Curriculum Group and the National Association of Independent Schools serve as important resources in furthering the kind of mission-driven innovation in teaching and learning that we are committed to.
  
  

What do colleges think of the CHAI program?

• Colleges have expressed great confidence in the quality of Campbell Hall’s curriculum and are eager to see students engage in innovative programs like the CHAI initiative.
  
  

Will students earn college course credit for successfully completing a CHAI class?

• No. CHAI courses are designed to promote intellectual curiosity, deep engagement, and inquiry within a discipline, rather than to offer college credit.
  
  

Will taking CHAI courses instead of College Board AP classes put students at a disadvantage in the college admissions process?

• Our conversations with college representatives, as well as our college admissions outcomes, have confirmed that students have achieved success in the college admissions process. Click here to see Campbell Hall’s recent college matriculation lists.
  
  

How can students demonstrate their CHAI skills?

• CHAI students can apply to present at the annual CHAI Symposium, an evening event in the spring that showcases the impact of their learning. Students are selected by a CHAI Advisory Board, which is composed of CHAI teachers and administrators.
• The Symposium reinforces the idea that the work done in CHAI courses has lasting relevance, fostering further academic exploration and personal growth. At its core, the symposium encourages students to reflect on their growth, celebrate their achievements, and engage in deeper discussions about the nature of rigorous scholarship at Campbell Hall.
• The event includes visual displays of student learning and a student-led panel discussion on CHAI skills across disciplines.