Advanced Placement classes give students an opportunity to take college-level courses and exams while still in high school. Students enjoy the challenge of taking Advanced Placement courses with enthusiastic classmates and teachers; high school faculty find that Advanced Placement courses enhance their students' confidence and academic interest as well as their school's reputation; and college faculty report that Advanced Placement students are far better prepared for serious academic work.

State regulations require teachers of Advanced Placement courses to be endorsed to teach the courses by participating in summer institutes hosted by the state's colleges and universities. Annually, institutes funded by the South Carolina Department of Education, are offered across the state providing educators an opportunity to be endorsed as AP teachers.

SDPC saw an increase in the number of students who took an AP course from the 2022 to the 2023 school year. Overall, 47.75% of SDPC students who took an AP exam scored a 3 or higher..