Student+Levels

Art students are described using three levels in the AP Vertical Teams Guide for Studio Art: Emerging, Proficient, and Advanced. It is impossible to attach a certain grade level to any of the terms since these levels simply define for teachers and students, where the student is in the continuum of study within the visual arts. An Emerging student is one who has been introduced to art concepts and information in middle school or before, or in foundation courses at the high school level. The Proficient student is a student who has had instruction at the middle or high school level or earlier, understands the instruction and can apply the instruction in a competent way. The Advanced student is the student who has achieved technical expertise and has made a commitment to the visual arts to pursue a higher level of understanding, through their own visual language, ideation, and voice. It is important to remember that an emerging student may be found in middle or high school. A proficient student may also be found in middle school, the term Advanced applies to the student who is taking advanced visual arts courses or AP Studio Art.