Monfredo: Advanced Placement Rally Highlights The Commitment of South High School
Sunday, October 04, 2015
Principal Binienda seized the moment and told the students that AP is all about giving you the chance to change your life. Starting this year, South High now offers 19 AP courses and even though there has been an increase in the number of students taking AP courses the rate of passing has kept up with the enrollment. Also, the 407 students taking AP this year has set a school record.
The highlight of the assembly was the big announcement by Principal Binienda, “South High beat all the other schools in the district with its AP qualifying scores. “ We lead the district with the number 4 and 5’s on our AP scores, stated Principal Binienda.” The news set off a wild cheer from the student body. In addition, all AP teachers spoke at the rally and all gave advice to the students stating the effort that you put into it is the effort you get out of it!
The outstanding faculty at the school certainly believes in their students and reaches out to establish those positive relationships so needed in our high schools. Perhaps, math department head Kellie Moulin said it best, “I firmly believe we should never tell a child they are not capable of achieving. We don't know their limits. All of our students are capable of achieving anything they desire. The expansion and success of our AP program has developed stronger, more curious students who are obtaining admission into top colleges.”
For those readers not familiar with Advanced Placement here is a simple definition. It is a university level freshmen course that you take in high school. There is a national exam at the end of the course and it is the same exam for all students in the nation. Scores on the exam range from 1 to 5 with 5 being the best and you need a 3 or higher to earn college credit while still in high school. Most importantly, AP allows you to compete for college admission with students from all over the country.
Other highlights mentioned include:
- 97 scores of 4 plus in all subjects and the most in the district
- Most exams in the district ( in all subjects- 626)
- Freshmen qualifying scores in all subjects was sixth in the state
- Sophomore qualifying scores in all subjects was 30th in the state
- In AP Science, the students last year doubled their qualifying scores from 32 to 64
- South High is the third most diverse school in the state
- AP courses are open to all students whether they are in honors or not
As part of the motivational rally several AP students spoke about their experience taking AP courses. Senior, Ken Adusei, whose goal is to attend an Ivy League College and is a well motivated individual spoke to his fellow students from the heart. He had this to say…
This year, I was debating whether I should take three or four AP courses. I had taken three last year but didn’t want to make it too hard in my senior year. Some of my friends told me to stop trying to take the easy way out and eventually it hit me that in my most important year, I was trying to stop running the race. Colleges want to see growth but I was trying to settle for a laidback year. The point of this story is not to tell you to take three AP’s … which by all means be my guest. It’s to encourage you to challenge yourself. I know high school gets hard and you just sometimes want to take a year’s worth of a break. But the thing that is so great about AP courses other than the fact that you can use them to get college credit is that you always finish them feeling accomplished, for I felt that way after I took Human Geography, AP Chemistry, AP Physics, AP Biology and AP English Literature. So if you are sitting here today thinking you can’t do an AP you’re taking this year or planning to drop or not take them next year, I want to tell you to keep on pushing through it because there is something really good waiting for you at the end of the journey .. if it’s not the feeling of accomplishment, then it might be the free semester of college.
South High also assist their students in their AP work load, for students have Saturday study sessions. It’s a mandated program for AP students at South High and has been beneficial to them. Busing is provided for the students.There are also initiatives on Saturday for there is a drawing where students could claim an Ipod, movie tickets, DD card and many other prizes. In addition the students get exam fee subsidy and mock exam practice.
The Worcester Public Schools Secondary Schools have partnered with Massachusetts Math and Science Initiative (MMSI) and College Board to bring high quality professional development to all secondary teachers and students. The program from MMSI provides extensive training for AP and pre-AP teachers, additional student preparation, and performance-based financial incentives for students and teachers. The Massachusetts Math and Science Initiative is also involved at North High, Worcester Tech, Burncoat and Claremont Academy.
John Smolenski, a member of the Massachusetts Math and Science Initiative, was introduced at the rally and highlighted the school’s achievements. He stated that there continues to be an increase in participation for there was an increase from last year of 18%. South High showed a three year increase in AP math, science and English qualifying scores. Mr. Smolenski acknowledged that the overall improvement the last few years at South High has been remarkable and they are the High School leaders in Worcester. At the rally he also acknowledged to the South High AP students that, according to College Admission directors’ course selections and grades in College Prep Courses (AP courses) is the number one criteria for admission to college. In addition, 86% of all students in the Mass Insight’s AP/STEM program continue to major in one of those content areas in college.
Congratulations South High and may the classes of 2015-16 go on to set additional records!
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