HVS earns honor for increasing AP enrollment, scores

Huron Valley Schools is one of 388 school districts in the nation recently honored by the College Board with a place on its Advanced Placement (AP) Achievement List for opening AP classroom doors to a significantly broader pool of students, while maintaining or improving the percentage of students earning scores of 3 or higher on AP exams.

From 2008 to 2010, the district has increased the number of students taking AP courses from 534 to 630, while still enabling more than 70 percent of its AP students to earn exam scores of 3 or higher, the score typically needed to earn college credit.

That represents a rise from 66 percent in 2008 to 71 percent in 2010.

“The district is offering more classes and students are passing more classes,” said Huron Valley Director of Community Relations and Fund Development Janet Roberts.

The district will be offering 20 AP classes this fall that range from biology to studio art and include two new choices: macroeconomics and microeconomics.

“We’re building up our list as time goes on and have a fairly good representation,” said Huron Valley Director of Secondary Education David Maile. “We also provide dyads where we link AP English, for example, with AP History because there are undercurrents within literature and the society at that time. It’s a way of making connections and strengthens the program.”

“We are very pleased to have received this honor and moreover, extremely proud of our AP students and teachers whose hard work made this possible. This distinction is also reflective of the GRAD 100 efforts we have focused on in our district,” said Superintendent Jackie Johnston.

GRAD 100 is a district-wide initiative to graduate 100 percent of students with the skills necessary to succeed in the global workplace. This program touches every grade level and involves every staff person in order to meet the needs of every student. The goal is for each student to be successful.

The AP Achievement List is made up of all school districts that are simultaneously expanding opportunity and improving performance, so even low-performing districts are included if they have been able to maintain or improve scores while expanding access. The list includes 388 school districts representing 43 states, with California’s 37 districts on the list representing the largest number of districts from a single state, followed by Michigan with 29 districts, according to a Huron Valley Schools press release.

“Participation in college-level AP courses can level the playing field for underserved students, give them the confidence needed to succeed in college, and raise standards and performance in key subjects like science and math,” said College Board President Gaston Caperton. “The AP Achievement List districts are defying expectations by expanding access while enabling their students to maintain or improve their AP exam scores.”

The College Board’s AP Program enables students to pursue college-level studies while still in high school. Through more than 30 college-level courses, each culminating in a rigorous exam, AP provides willing and academically prepared students with the opportunity to earn college credit, advanced placement or both. Taking AP courses also demonstrates to college admission officers that students have sought the most rigorous curriculum available to them.