From the Trussville Tribune staff reports
SPRINGVILLE — There are amazing things going on in the classrooms at Springville High School, and it is thanks to A+ College Ready.
In just three years, Springville High School has risen to a state of dominance in the realm of Advanced Placement (AP) courses. In light of this achievement, Springville High School was recently recognized with an award at the A+ College Ready 10 Year Anniversary Celebration.
The Mary D. Boehm School of Achievement Award was created in honor of Mary D. Boehm, founding president of A+ College Ready, and is given to schools that achieve a yearly goal set by A+ College Ready for three consecutive years. The award came with a banner, a trophy and a $2500 check to be used for scholarships for AP students.
The journey that SHS has been on over the past three years, while under the A+ College Ready Program, has been profound. In the first year, SHS students had the opportunity to choose between seven different AP courses. Presently, students can choose from eleven different courses offered at the school.
AP, or Advanced Placement, courses are operated by the same college board that makes the SAT. The AP program allows high school students to take courses designed for college difficulty while they are still in high school. At the end of an AP course, students who take an AP exam, and make a qualifying score, will have the opportunity to earn college credit.
From year one to year three, Springville High School increased the number of qualifying AP scores by 256 percent. This past spring, Springville High School had 121 qualifying AP scores. The students who achieved this success were recently honored at a home football game and were awarded a $100 gift card per every exam passed. There were $12,100 in gift cards awarded.
Of course, none of this would be possible without the faculty and the dedication, enthusiasm, and hard work from the staff. Springville High School teachers have spent innumerable hours of their own time, during summers and scheduled off days, attending trainings, lesson planning, and grading assignments.
A+ College Ready’s slogan is “Equip, Empower, Expect More … Fostering a Culture of Innovation in Alabama Schools.” Springville High School has lived up to, and surpassed, each of these expectations.