The state of Illinois recently passed a law requiring public colleges and universities to provide course credit to students who score a 3 or higher on an Advanced Placement exam. This change opens the door for more students to be eligible to receive college credit based on how they score on the AP test.
This is a great opportunity, and many students took AP classes this past school year and endured the rigorous tests. Oak Lawn continues to encourage students to take these AP classes and continually works to improve student preparation for the test.
"I love teaching AP courses because it is so rewarding watching students rise up to meet the challenges," said AP United States History teacher Pat DiFilippo. "These students sacrifice so much of their time to focus on these courses and it is so great to see them excel. They really learn that old adages like 'hard work pays off' still have merit today."
While many students scored 3's and earned college credit, there was an elite group of Spartans who scored a 5 (which is the highest possible score). There were even two specific classes that boasted of at least 40-percent of the entire class earning 5's.
These amazing students scoring 5's did it in classes such as Calculus, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Physics, Spanish Language and Culture, Studio Art, United States Government and Politics, United States History, and World History. In fact six out of 14 students in the AP Calculus classes scored a 5, and five out of 11 students in the Spanish Language and Culture class scored a 5. Those are some pretty impressive numbers.
Additionally, multiple Spartans attained AP Scholar recognition from the College Board. AP Scholar Awards recognize students who have demonstrated college-level achievement through AP courses and exams. Danielle Allen and Trevor Spreadbury were recognized at the premier level as National AP Scholars averaging at least 4 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams. This year alone, Spreadbury scored a total of five 5's and Allen scored two 5's and five 4's.
Ryan Quinn and Steven Raybould were named AP Scholars with Distinction based on their average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.
Seven additional students were awarded AP Scholar with Honor, granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams: Cory Brzozowski, Kaeley Clark, Cameron DeLaMora, Aleksandra Gronski, Val Molloy, Sergio Serna, and Gina Snyder.
Finally, 18 Spartans were named AP Scholars, with scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams: Brea Brennan, Shania Enriquez, Marcus Favila, Jacob Janicke, Jackson Kierna, Kaylee Lacoco, Akram Mahdi, Wadah Omer, Madeleine Pagliaro, Eoin Prendiville, Jorge Ramirez, Michael Rodriguez, Mohammad Salameh, Eric Sciaky, Sophia Shader, Rebecca Suarez, Jessica Tobin, and Kelly Touchie.
As OLCHS continues to urge students to challenge themselves by taking these AP classes, more and more students will reap the benefits of earning college credits before they even step on a university campus.
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