Advanced Placement students stand for applause at Drury High School.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The number of students taking Advanced Placement classes at Drury High School has doubled in the past three years.
Even better, students scoring a 3.0 or better has nearly tripled.
John Smolenski, a senior field director for Mass Insight Education, says that adds up to success.
"You take the hardest courses you can get into," he told the packed Drury auditorium last week. "It allows you to compete to get into the college you want."
The Wednesday morning session was both a recognition of the hard work of the current students and a primer for the incoming freshman class.
"It's really a credit to everyone of you," said Superintendent James Montepare.
Over the past three years, Mass Insight, a non-profit organization that aids public schools in preparing students for higher education and careers, has been working with Drury High School through Advanced Placement training and tutoring sessions. It is also working with Lee, both Pittsfield high schools, Hoosac Valley and Wahconah Regional.
It offers academic support, teacher workshops, equipment, program recommendations, mock exams and exam subsidies, and Saturday study sessions.
From 37 students taking AP in 2008, some 239 were enrolled this year in English, science and math courses. The percentage of students scoring 3 or higher skyrocketed to past both national and state numbers.
Overall, student participation has grown by large margins over the past three years: English has jumped from 49 to 121, up 146 percent, and mathematics from 13 to 55, or 323 percent. This year, chemistry has been added to the science courses, which had seen and increase of 352 percent.
Qualifying scores over two years were up 154 percent, from 22 to 56 students obtaining a 3.0 or greater in all courses; those earning a 4.0 or greater went from 12 to 22. Participation by lower-income students overall, and their scores, increased as did girls taking science and math.
"For a school this size, it is absolutely breathtaking. It is amazing," Smolenski said of the students' achievements.
"They get ahead, but this also can be seen as an inspiration for their classmates," said Monica Joslin, dean of academic affairs at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, after the session.
Students taking AP college-level courses in high school tended to have higher grade-point averages in college, and better chances of getting into those schools in the first place.
Principal Amy Meehan noted her daughter had come home from college complaining all her friends were too busy studying. Why wasn't she studying?
"She said, 'I took too many AP classes, duh,'" Meehan told her charges.
Admissions officers weigh a range of criteria in selecting their student bodies, including test scores, rankings, writing skills, grades, activities and recommendations.
"More than anything, they want to see the courses you are taking in high school," Smolenski said. "As a freshmen [in college] you would have to take five AP courses."
Drury is also expanding on its student preparation with the creation of a College & Career Center.
Two classrooms have been combined to offer computer access for writing and research, college admissions information sessions, meeting space and guidance. Nestled next to guidance offices and overseen by career specialist Michele Boyer-Vivori, the center is a drop-in for seniors making out scholarship forms or looking for advice.
The space has already been used for a visit from representatives from the University of Vermont.
Smolenski said it was a matter of making the choice to put in the extra time.
"This is your chance to put in the extra time," he said. "Luck is the intersection of opportunity and preparation."
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Advanced Placement students stand for applause at Drury High School.
