Glenelg High School

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Advanced Placement Scholars Program at Marriotts
Ridge High School
A Program with Extraordinary Potential
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• The surge in the number of students taking the
  AP tests is changing life inside Americas
  classrooms -- and altering the rules of the
  college admissions game.
• - Newsweek, 5/03

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College Board 2003 Inspiration Awards

• Parade Magazine (Nov. 2, 2003) featured this
  years three winners
• Pasadena, CA student body of 1700, 70 Hispanic
  or African American, 60 on free/reduced lunch
  increased number of students passing AP exams
  from 37 to 187 in 6 years, and now has 33 of
  student body enrolled in AP courses. College
  attendance was boosted to 88. Mr. Sunada, AP
  coordinator and teacher, says We demand that our
  students push themselves and improve, and in that
  way prepare for college.
• Two other award winning schools in Dallas, TX and
  Atlanta, GA with similar demographics also had
  excellent results in elevating student
  achievement by raising the top end through AP
  programs.

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AP Scholars Program Goals

• To increase the number of students participating
  in advanced placement programs
• To raise the performance of all students by
  creating a culture of high academic achievement
• To prepare students for a competitive college
  admissions process

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Advanced Placement Programs Are Measures of
Excellence

• Ranking of schools and school systems is based on
  AP participation (Newsweek selected top 737
  schools nationally based on AP or IP programs)
• Universities are using AP participation as a
  benchmark for selecting students (Grades in
  college prep courses ranked 1 of the 9 criteria
  used for admission)

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National Trends Based on AP Performance

• Newsweek chose nations top schools based on
  enrollment in AP/IB programs.
• U.S. Department of Education study shows AP
  students have higher bachelor degree completion
  rates.
• AP students are more likely to maintain a high
  GPA and graduate with honors from college.
• College tuition can be cut by as much as 25 by
  applying AP credits toward graduation
  requirements.

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APEX Scholars Programs fromWalter Johnson and
Middletown High Schools Serve As Local Models

• WJHS implemented its APEX (Advanced Placement
  Experience) Scholars Program eight years ago.
  Other school systems across the nation started
  similar programs. The data collected from WJHS
  are presented in the next several slides.
  Currently, several other schools in MD are
  offering such programs with success, including
  Middletown High School which began two years age,
  and nationally this trend continues to grow.

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Number of Advanced Placement Classes taken by
APEX Students 52 APEX Scholars at WJHS during
grades 9-12

• 10 AP Classes Taken 8
• 9 AP Classes Taken 9
• 8 AP Classes Taken 22
• 7 AP Classes Taken 11
• 6 AP Classes Taken 2
• 5 AP Classes Taken 0
• 418 AP Courses taken by 52 APEX Students
• All AP Courses are year-long or the equivalent
  

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Marriotts Ridge High Schools AP Scholars Program

• Offers a comprehensive 4-year curriculum for
  academically talented students.
• Requires participants to take a core of at least
  six designated AP courses and six AP exams over
  their four years of high school. These courses
  will
• assist students in meeting academic goals.
• ensure interdisciplinary learning.
• allow freedom to follow coursework of their own
  choice.

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The AP Scholars Program will ...

• Increase AP participation school wide.
• Position students well for a competitive college
  admissions process
• Allow students to make strong academic choices
  while participating in an enriching and varied
  high school experience.
• Create small learning communities within a large
  school.
• Provide an impressive overlay for the High School
  Transcript describing the academic program
  completed.
• Potentially save money on college tuition

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Course Requirements

• Students in the program must
• meet all state and local requirements for
  graduation and the unique requirements for the
  program designation.
• complete six AP courses and examinations by the
  end of their senior year. These must include
• Calculus AP
• English Language (or Literature) and
  Composition AP
• Science AP
• Social Studies AP in Grade 10
• 2 self-selected AP courses
• complete required summer reading assigned in some
  AP classes.
• Students not in the program initially may enter
  (open enrollment) the program at the end of their
  junior year, provided they can complete the 6
  required AP classes.

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Course Requirements for Grade 9 GT and AP
Scholars Level Courses

• English GT (AP Scholars)
• Biology GT (AP Scholars)
• Social Studies--US History GT (AP Scholars)
• Geometry GT, Algebra 2 GT, or higher (AP
  Scholars)
• Foreign Language
• PE/Health
• An elective in Related Arts or Technology

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Course Requirements for Grade 10 One, Not More
than 2, AP Level Courses

• English GT
• Chemistry I or Chemistry I GT
• Social Studies AP--Government and Politics
• Math--Algebra 2 GT, Pre-calculus GT, or higher
• Foreign Language
• Independent Research (strongly recommended)
• Elective

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Course Requirements for Grade 11Students Must
Select Two or More AP Level Courses

• English GT--Literature/Language
• Physics GT and possibly Science AP--Biology AP or
  Chemistry AP
• Social Studies
• Math--Pre-calculus or higher (calculus AB is an
  AP course)
• Foreign Language
• Electives (total of above and electives to
  include at least two AP courses)

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Course Requirements for Grade 12 Students
Select AP Courses (must total six courses and
exams by graduation, including the four specified
in the program)Plus

• Electives (a total of 6 AP courses must be
  completed by graduation)

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Candidate Selection Requirements

• Prospective candidates must submit a Statement of
  Interest with the following items to
• 8th grade counselor at their middle school
• 9th grade counselor at their high school
• Four teacher-evaluation forms from the program
  candidates choice of teachers in 8th grade or
  9th grade academic subjects (math, English,
  science, social studies).
• Official report cards for grades 7 and 8 or 8 and
  9
• Writing sample (administered at MVMS at
  designated time)
• Perfomance of Maryland School Assessments
  (Reading and Math)

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Selection for Participation

• Students will be evaluated for selection into
  the program by a committee. Based on a total of
  numeric scores from each category, students will
  be ranked and placed in one of the following
  categories
• Full acceptance
• Wait-listing status based on availability of
  seats in the program
• Not accepted, with a date by which all appeals
  must be submitted
• Students will have 10 weekdays to return either a
  letter of commitment, acceptance of wait-list
  status, or appeal of the committee decision.

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Timeline

• Jan. 18th, 05 Parent and Scholars Information
  Night at MVMS
• Feb 4th, 05 Statement of Interest from program
  candidates due in guidance at local school,
  300 p.m.
• Feb. 11h, 05 Writing sample administered at
  MVMS 900-1000 a.m. or 100-200 p.m.
• Mar. 14h, 05 Letters of acceptance mailed
• Apr. 05 (TBA) Meeting of accepted students at
  MVMS

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AP Courses To Be Offered at MRHS

• English--AP Literature and composition, AP
  Language and Composition (examination only)
• Foreign Language-- Possibilities include Spanish
  Latin and French
• Mathematics--Calculus AB and BC, Statistics,
  Computer Science A B
• Science--Biology AP, Chemistry AP, Physics AP
  (Possibilities for future include Environmental
  Science)
• Social Studies--US History AP, Govt and Politics
  AP, World History AP, European AP, and Psychology
  AP
• Art--Studio Art AP (Possibilities for future
  include Art History AP)
• Music--Possibilities for future include Music
  Theory AP

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Through this proposed program we will elevate the
academic performance of not only AP Scholars, but
of all students in the school, as demonstrated by
those schools currently implementing similar
programs.
Long Range Benefits
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Where are we going?

• Imagine the possibilities
• In May 2002, 123 GHS students took 222 AP tests
  78 scored a 3 or higher to earn college
  credit.
• In September of 2004, AP enrollment at GHS was
  up by 40 over 2003.
• What might our students achieve in 5-7 years?
• In just 7 years WJHS grew from giving 347 AP
  tests to 1016 AP tests.
• Just imagine what we could do at MRHS!

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2004-5 AP Scholars Program Staff

• AP Scholars Program Coordinator Lynn
  Strandquist
• Guidance Department Liaison Will Schwar z
• Academic Advisor
• Teaching Staff
• Lynn Strandquist-Biology GT
• (other subject teachers to be hired)

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Questions ?Email us at Lisa_Veslany_at_hcpss.
orgWilliam_Schwarz_at_hcpss.orgLinda_Wise_at_hcpss.org
Call MRHS 410-313-5568