By JENNIFER AMATO
Staff Writer
NORTH BRUNSWICK — North Brunswick Township High School (NBTHS) is one of 425 school districts in the United States and Canada being honored by the College Board with placement on the 6th Annual AP (Advanced Placement) District Honor Roll.
Reaching these goals indicates that a district is successfully identifying motivated, academically prepared students who are ready for the opportunity of AP, and for increasing access to AP course work while simultaneously maintaining or increasing the percentage of students earning scores of 3 or higher on AP exams.
“Our students worked very hard to prepare themselves for the rigors of AP coursework and exams. Our teachers, counselors and administrators opened up opportunities for more students to experience AP level classes; they tirelessly challenged and motivated our students to expect success. When students learn and engage in a success-minded culture, it’s amazing what can be accomplished,” said Kevin P. Farrell, director of the NBTHS Guidance Department.
National data from 2015 show that among black/African American, Hispanic and Native American students with a high degree of readiness for AP, only about half of students are participating, according to a press release. NBTHS has been committed to expanding the availability of AP courses among prepared and motivated students of all backgrounds.
“That the committed teachers and administrators in this district have both expanded AP access and also helped their students achieve high levels of performance on AP exams shows they’re delivering opportunity in their schools and classrooms, and it is a real testament to their belief that a more diverse population of young people is ready for the challenge of college,” said Trevor Packer, the College Board’s senior vice president of AP and Instruction. “Congratulations to these teachers and administrators and to their hard-working students.”
Inclusion on the 6th Annual District Honor Roll is based on the examination of three years of AP data, from 2013-2015, looking across 34 AP exams, including world language and culture. Districts must increase participation/access to AP by at least 4 percent in large districts, at least 6 percent in medium districts, and at least 11 percent in small districts; increase or maintain the percentage of exams taken by black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, and American Indian/Alaska Native students; and improve or maintain performance levels when comparing the 2015 percentage of students scoring a 3 or higher to the 2013 percentage, unless the district has already attained a performance level at which more than 70 percent of its AP students are scoring a 3 or higher.
Contact Jennifer Amato at jamato@gmnews.com.
