Whitfield County Schools makes College Board’s AP Honor Roll

Published 12:00 pm Saturday, December 21, 2019

Whitfield County Schools is one of only five systems in the state included on the College Board’s 10th Annual AP District Honor Roll.

The AP District Honor Roll is a roster of school systems that are increasing access to Advanced Placement (AP) coursework while maintaining or increasing the percentage of students earning scores of 3 or higher on AP exams, according to the Georgia Department of Education. Students are scored 1 to 5 on AP tests, which are conducted each May, and a score of 3 is the minimum required to demonstrate a student is qualified in the subject.

“We didn’t know about this (commendation) until we got the notice” from the state Department of Education, said Judy Gilreath, superintendent. This honor is not something the school system was actively working for, but, rather, “we’re working hard and were rewarded.”

Audrey Williams, assistant superintendent for accountability and assessment, echoed those sentiments, saying, “It was a surprise to us, (but) an excellent surprise.”

Students who succeed in AP classes in high school can receive college credit for their efforts, which is “an advantage,” and high school instructors need special training to teach those courses, Gilreath said. “Our teachers work so hard,” so inclusion on this list is also a credit to them.

And while many students who take AP classes are highly motivated, some need encouragement to believe they’re capable, and the teachers in the system excel in identifying students who might benefit from these enrichment opportunities, Williams said. The school system offers several AP options in every subject, and students can take them online as well as in a traditional classroom setting.

If there aren’t enough students in a given high school to fill a certain AP class, students can take it online, Williams said. “We have a teacher in every school to supervise and help them.”

Taking AP courses while in high school provides students with “a dose of college-level curriculum,” which can ease the transition from high school to college, according to The Princeton Review, a college admissions services company. Furthermore, it demonstrates to college admissions officers that students are motivated and ready to work.