By Kelsey Horath
The number of students enrolled in Advanced Placement (AP) courses is continuing to rise year by year with 329 students active in courses across Lincoln Parish.
Currently, there are 304 students participating at Ruston High School and 25 at Choudrant High School. AP courses allows students the chance to receive college credit through advanced and rigorous course material. To earn the college credit, students must make a “qualifying” score of 3-5 on AP exams.
“There is significant data that proves that even students who earn a score of a ‘2’ on an exam are more likely to be able to do college level work successfully after high school,” Emily Howell, 11th grade AP Language and Composition teacher and ELA coordinator for Lincoln Parish, said.
Qualifying scores on exams also allow schools to be rewarded with a greater score on the strength of diploma index. Scores in AP courses like Literature and Composition, Language and Composition, Biology and Statistics received high qualifying results this past year.
In both ELA courses, Language and Composition and Literature and Composition, students at Ruston High School scored above state and national averages in every discrete skill (see tables below).
Parents and other students notice the benefits of AP courses through the continued growth of numbers, which reflects not only the dedication of students but the diligence of teachers.
“It is always exciting to see students accept the challenge of taking an AP class,” Lincoln Parish School Board superintendent Ricky Durrett said. “The rigor of these classes prepare students for college. It isn’t just about making a 3 or better on the AP test just taking the class and doing the work prepares students for future classes.”
This past July, the ELA Pre-AP and Advanced Placement vertical team from Ruston High School, along with the Lincoln Parish superintendent, were invited to present at the national conference in Seattle, Washington. The group included Howell, Durrett, Kelsey Whitlock, 11th grade AP Language and Composition teacher, Stephanie Treadway, 10th grade Pre-AP English teacher, Ashlee Bell, 12th grade Dual/AP Literature teacher, and Jaimee Hudson, Academic Assistant Principal and Freshman Academy Director at RHS.
“Our presentation ‘Better Together: Building a Vertical Team’ focused on the guiding principles of access and equity, a culture of high expectations and a culture of collaboration,” Howell said.
The College Board’s Pre-AP course framework, designed to give additional opportunities for educators to prepare students for advanced coursework and AP classes, has been adopted by Ruston High School. This course will be implemented starting this school year.
