WEST HIGH AP PROGRAM RECEIVES RECOGNITION

The College Board recognized West High School, Davenport, Iowa, at the Midwest Regional Forum, Chicago, on February 28, 2006, as the number one school in the state of Iowa for its commitment to excellence and equity in education, and its access to and success in AP programs. West High was the only school recognized in the state of Iowa. This was the 50th anniversary for the national College Board organization.

Measurement for this award was based on the number of students taking the College Board AP exams, the number of students with scores of 3, 4, or 5 on the College Board exams in schools graduating 200 or more students. Colleges and universities require a score of 3, 4, or 5 for college credit and placement.

In view of the numbers of students who receive free and reduced lunch, the College Board was impressed at the number of students at West High who scored so high on the AP tests. These tests are administered in May at individual schools and are graded by a group of College Board test evaluators.

The College Board requires that AP classes be taught according to the requirements and demands of a recognized AP college-level curriculum. In the Davenport School System, the AP courses are three-term, college-level courses.

Recognition was given to those teachers who have worked so hard to maintain high expectations and rigor and who have helped students to achieve success on the AP College Board tests.

The AP program has grown at West High throughout the last five to ten years. The school offers courses in AP Calculus, AP Statistics, AP Chemistry, AP Biology, AP English, AP Spanish, and AP French.

The teachers representing West High and traveling to Chicago to receive the award were Hildasue Petersen, AP Calculus and AP Statistics instructor, and Patricia Sheehey, AP English instructor. Other instructors at West High include Lucille Stacer, AP French; Barbara Lipnick, AP Spanish; Melissa Trimble, AP Chemistry; Renne Lietz, AP Biology; and JoAnn Scovil, AP Calculus.

The cut-glass trophy was presented to West High at the Staff Development session on Wednesday, May 31, 2006.