We are celebrating AP success
There will be many excited young people at the Lincoln Professional Development Center Tuesday, Oct. 2, when we celebrate their success in Advanced Placement courses. Each of the students earned a qualifying score on one or more end-of-course exams for AP classes they took during the 2011-2012 school year. A qualifying score is three or higher out of five and gives the student the ability to receive college credit for the class. Birmingham City Schools joined the A+ College Ready program in 2009. A+ College Ready focuses on increasing the number of AP math, science and English classes offered in high schools, the number of students taking them and the number of students earning qualifying scores. Huffman, Wenonah and Ramsay high schools signed on first, followed by Carver and Jackson-Olin. We are working to increase AP courses and participation in all of our high schools in the district. A+ College Ready has helped Alabama lead the nation the last five years in the percentage growth of high school students earning qualifying AP scores and in the number of minority students taking AP classes. State officials held a press conference earlier this week at which they said the number of Alabama students making qualifying scores in those three subject areas has increased 102 percent since the program began. The increase in Birmingham has been even larger. AP enrollment in those subject areas rose 233 percent since the program began. The number making a three or higher has increased 132 percent. In addition, the number of AP classes has increased 136 percent. Of course, the best news for the students is that they have earned college credit, but the Tuesday celebration will include financial rewards as well. A+ College Ready awards students $100 for each qualifying score in math, science and English. BCS provides the rewards for students at Woodlawn and Parker and those who earned qualifying scores in art or social studies. But there is more to AP classes than earning college credit and getting a reward. It has been shown that just going through a rigorous academic course better prepares students for college - even if they do not make a three or higher. They have experienced the demands and teaching methods that they will encounter in higher education and are more likely to succeed at that level. That is why we are encouraging more students to take AP classes. Our goal is to produce college- and career-ready graduates. AP is a valuable tool in that quest. Sincerely,
Craig Witherspoon Superintendent
Birmingham City Schools | 
