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Homewood is no stranger to the success that their schools offer, but this past year their advanced placement test results were ones for the books.
AP classes are offered in many high schools throughout the country and present to students the opportunity to study certain subjects at the college level. This gives them the potential to earn college credit for their efforts, too.
“AP classes tend to be more rigorous and time consuming than a traditional class. Students are aware that they must be accountable inside and outside the classroom,” said AP psychology teacher Christy Morman, who has been teaching AP psychology for 13 years. “It is a college level course and you have to step up to those expectations.”
When Homewood City Schools first began their AP classes, there were only a handful of students who participated; in the spring of 2016, Homewood's number of administered tests grew to 801.
Exam subjects touched on nearly all academic disciplines, including psychology, chemistry, Spanish, French, calculus, macroeconomics, studio art and English literature and language. Of the 347 participating students, 77 percent of them earned a passing score of three or better, which depending on the college could earn them class credit before ever having set foot on the campus.
Success on AP exams begins at the elementary level, said Morman, where students are encouraged to engage in active learning, an approach that continues through middle and high school. No one is discouraged from taking an AP class.
“I love the fact that our students at Homewood who take AP courses represent our entire student body,” she said. “It is not a ‘select group’ who take AP courses; it is some of everyone.”
In addition to their test scores, Homewood high school students earned these recognitions:
- 52 students were named AP Scholars for scoring a three or better on three or more exams
- 22 students were named AP Scholars with Honor for scoring a three or better on four exams and averaging at least a 3.25 on all exams taken
- 38 students were named AP Scholars with Distinction for scoring a three or better on five exams and averaging at least a 3.5 on all exams taken
- Nine students were named National AP Scholars for averaging at least a 4.0 on all exams taken and earning a 4 or higher on eight or more exams
“Homewood takes pride in hiring quality teachers and providing the resources necessary to help students truly reach their unique potentials,” said Morman. “We have no prerequisites for most classes and we have established a trusting environment where students feel safe trying an AP course because they know their teachers are 100 percent invested in their success.”
