For two years, the College Board has released its honor roll of high schools in the U.S. and Canada that are offering more Advanced Placement courses each year and have more students than last year receiving high scores on AP exams.
This year, for the second year in a row, D.C. Everest Senior High School has landed on that list.
"We're really excited and we're really pleased with the success of our kids," said Tom Johansen, principal at D.C. Everest Senior High School.
To get a place on the honor roll, school districts must simultaneously offer more opportunities than the year before to take AP classes and improve student performance on the exams.
In 2011, 255 students at Everest scored a three or better on their AP exams, up from 145 in 2007 and 246 in 2010.
Across the country, the College Board honored 367 schools. Students who take AP courses have the opportunity to take an exam in the spring. If they score well enough, the students can receive college credit for the class.
"It really is significant for us," Johansen said. "It means more kids are taking the classes and they're doing better on the exams and we anticipate our numbers will keep going up."
In 2006-07, 195 Everest students took AP courses. In 2010-11, that number jumped to 335.
Mike Teuke, an AP biology teacher at the school, said he gives his students all the credit for the award.
"The students do all the work," he said. "We are here to support them and give them resources, but they are ultimately responsible for their achievements."
The district started offering AP courses about 20 years ago with AP U.S. History and currently offers more than 16 courses. Johansen said teachers are working on offering more courses next year, something students are looking forward to.
"I've heard that Everest offers the most AP courses in our area," said junior Zach Neuner, 17. "I think it's great. It gives us more opportunities."
from the The Wausau Daily Herald
