LEESVILLE, La.--The Louisiana Department of Education announced July 31 that Leesville High School was among the top ten schools that increased their students' performance on Advanced Placement exams from 2013 to 2014.

Leesville High School's percent of students earning a score of 3 or higher was 46.5 percent during the 2013-14 school year, with a total of 43 tests being taken.

"These increases in Advanced Placement scores offer opportunities to students and teachers alike," said State Superintendent John White in the press release. "Studies show that even for students who pass the course but not the test, the benefits are lasting. Challenging coursework in high school is critical to college success."

Fort Polk Progress, as part of the Education Initiative, recently invested $5,000 in the Vernon Parish School District's Advanced Placement programs; the funds helped expand the class offerings by training more of the district's teachers to become AP instructors.

Leesville High School AP teacher Ken Hayes who is entering his 30th year as a teacher says the increase in AP participation at Leesville High is the result of multiple factors.  

"One of the things we've done at Leesville High School is we have expanded the program beyond math and science to include English, history and calculus," Hayes said. "The expansion gave more students the opportunity to participate in the AP program. Our teachers also went through a lot of extensive AP training by the College Board last summer to qualify to teach AP courses. It says a lot about the school district's support that our program continues to expand."

Advanced Placement (AP) allows students to partake in a more rigorous course load than traditional high school classes. Students take AP courses at their high schools, and at the end of the year test for college credit which is accepted by colleges across the country. The national standardized test allows students to demonstrate how much they have mastered the subject, and they can earn high school and college credit depending on their score. As a result of the program students graduate high school with more confidence, college credit, and less of a financial burden than peers who are unable to participate.

Brianna Barnes, who is entering her senior year at Leesville High School, recently scored the district's first 5, the highest possible score, on the College Board administered exam in AP World History. Hayes, who taught Brianna, said her achievement was exceptional.

"What Brianna did was phenomenal because she was also taking AP English and Pre-AP Chemistry," said Hayes. "She had her plate full."

As a result of her scores in World History and English, Barnes will receive college credit in both classes according to Hayes.

Abdul Latif Armiyaw, a recent graduate of Pickering High School in the Vernon Parish School District, also had remarkable success with AP courses. Last year he took four AP courses and also earned a scholarship valued at $232,000 to Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, where he plans to study biology and pre-med.

"I had to work hard at Pickering," Latif said. "The academics were very rigorous."

But AP is not the only advantage Vernon Parish students have.

Amber Mason, an upcoming senior at Pickering High School, has set herself up to graduate high school as a college sophomore by utilizing the Vernon Parish School District's Dual Enrollment program.

Amber currently has nine college credits, and plans to take up to eight more classes during her senior year of high school in 2014-15.

"My classes have really opened my eyes and given me a realistic view of college," said Amber.  "It's also made me much more interested in learning by being able to take classes my school doesn't usually offer, allowing me to branch out and challenge myself in different ways. Earning one year of college credit while still in high school makes me more confident in continuing my higher education after graduation."  

The Vernon Parish School District has developed a relationship with Northwestern State University (NSU), and now Central Louisiana Technical Community College (CLTCC) to provide students the opportunity to earn college credit at a high school pace through the Dual Enrollment program.

Dual Enrollment is a pathway that allows high school students to enroll in college courses while still in high school and receive college and high school credits at the same time. The credits help prepare students for entering the workforce with quality training.

"Dual enrollment is a fantastic way for students to set themselves up for success," said Renita Page, curriculum director of the Vernon Parish School District. "Juniors and seniors can begin earning their college grade point average and credit while still in high school. Vernon Parish helps lift most of the financial burden for students, giving them ample opportunity to graduate high school with part of college already paid for."

Though there are some admission requirements and a small enrollment fee, most other expenses are paid for by the school, including tuition and book costs associated with the classes in which students are enrolled.

The financial benefits far outweigh the costs for students interested in dual enrollment courses, since students have unlimited potential and opportunity to earn as many credits as they can fit in during high school.

"Parents may be concerned about students 'growing up' or 'advancing too fast,' but these programs allow students to advance while retaining the high school setting," said Shannon Mason, Amber's mother and a teacher in the school system. "It is our goal as teachers and as a parish to help students reach their individual potential, find their purpose, and help them realize the rewards of academic success."

Hayes says the AP program at Leesville High School will continue to grow.

"There is still room to expand the program," Hayes said. "Last year there were about 45 students enrolled in the AP program. Next year we expect 80 students."

The AP and Dual Enrollment programs in Vernon Parish schools exemplify the district's unwavering commitment to academic excellence according to Hayes.

"There are students, especially those whose parents are serving in the military, who come here from all over the world, and they need to know that we are marching right along with any school in the nation as far as academic challenges and opportunities," he said.

Another advantage of both Dual Enrollment and AP courses is that students who also earn TOPS can apply those funds to a graduate degree. For more information on TOPS scholarships, please visit the Louisiana Department of Education website at:http://www.louisianabelieves.com/ .

To view a video that highlights the benefits of AP and Dual Enrollment in Vernon Parish, click here.