National Affiliate Spotlight: Durham, N.C., focuses on increasing AP enrollment

A report issued in August by Chris Bennett, executive director of advanced academic studies for the Durham school district, says “participation in Advanced Placement courses and tests has increased steadily over the last 10 years, reaching an all-time high in the 2005-06 school year.”

The number of students enrolled in AP courses rose from 1,045 in 2005 to 1,165 in 2006. Students took 2,500 AP exams in 2006, and had a passing rate of 64 percent.

Between 2005 and 2006, the number of African-American students who took an AP test rose 28 percent, and the number of Hispanic test-takers rose 48.3 percent.

Bennett reports that participation in honors courses has increased by 56 percent during the past two years, from 11,250 to 17,499 students. During that period, Hispanic enrollment in honors courses increased 111 percent and black enrollment rose 68 percent.

School board member Heidi Carter, chair of the board’s Instructional Services Committee, attributes this success to the district’s efforts to recruit students for advanced courses, prepare students in the middle and elementary grades, provide support to students enrolled in AP courses, and expand professional development for teachers.

Carter said district leaders are proud that four high schools  -- Jordan, Riverside, Northern High, and the Durham School of the Arts -- made Newsweek’s list of the nation’s top 1,258 high schools, which is based on student participation in tests for advanced courses.

Among the benefits of AP courses cited in the report: Students can earn college credits, save on college tuition costs, demonstrate mastery of college-level material, learn time management and study skills, and have more options once they get to college.

The priority on AP courses began two years ago as part of a broader strategy on high school reform, which also included a switch to block scheduling. Bennett said that meant students could take eight classes a year instead of six, allowing them to squeeze in more AP courses.

That effort also included more elementary students identified as gifted and more rigor in middle school -- and better alignment throughout the K-12 system -- so “when students get to high school they would have access to more AP courses and would be better prepared for them,” he said.

“A lot of students really want the challenge,” Bennett said. For those on the cusp, or who wouldn’t ordinarily consider an AP course, the district provides more support to help them succeed in the tougher courses.

According to Bennett, the most popular AP courses are English, U.S. history, chemistry, biology, and psychology.

The school board has set several goals for the current school year, Carter said, including a higher passing rate on AP exams, particularly for African Americans and females, and plans to recruit and train more teachers who are highly qualified to teach advanced courses.

Carter said an honors/AP committee will be formed at each school to oversee the master schedule, plan courses, and analyze student data.

Carter said counselors will make an increased effort to reach out and identify students capable of enrolling and succeeding in honors and AP courses. The courses will be promoted and marketed through presentations to parent groups, and businesses will be asked to support scholarships.

The district also is considering summer acceleration programs and tutorials.

“The school board is pleased with the successes our district has had with increasing participation in advanced courses, especially among typically under-represented groups,” Carter said. “Our leaders and teachers will continue to work tirelessly to prepare students in elementary and middle school so that they will be ready and able for success in advanced courses in high school.”