Final answer:
AP courses, endorsed by the College Board, focus on preparing students for an exam to earn college credit, whereas dual enrollment provides actual college class experience with credit earned upon course completion.
Step-by-step explanation:
Advanced Placement (AP) and dual enrollment are both academic programs that offer high school students the opportunity to pursue college-level coursework, but they differ in structure and outcomes. AP courses, including a comprehensive AP lab program, are created by the College Board and culminate in an exam, with the possibility of earning college credit based on the exam score; these courses prepare students by developing critical thinking and reasoning skills. In contrast, dual enrollment allows students to take actual college courses, often at local institutions, earning both high school and college credits simultaneously upon successful completion of the course.
Advanced Placement classes emphasize a rigorous standard aligned with college expectations and often include assessment options such as end-of-module problems, Integrated Concept Problems, and Unreasonable Results. These features, as well as Test Prep for AP Courses, aim to fully prepare students for the demands of the AP exam and subsequent college courses. Dual enrollment students, however, experience the college academic environment directly and get a head start on their college education by earning credits that are usually transferable to other post-secondary institutions.