Thirty additional high schools across the state have been selected to participate in a successful statewide initiative, which will increase the number of students prepared for the challenge of college courses.
These schools will join 118 Alabama high schools in the ALSDE/A+ College Ready Program that receive comprehensive teacher training and student support to boost enrollment and success in Advanced Placement (AP®) courses in mathematics, science and English, and the rigorous courses that lead up to AP.
Alabama has consistently ranked number one among all 50 states in the percent increase in qualifying scores on math, science and English AP exams from 2008-2014 for all students, and for minority students. Because of this success, Governor Bentley proposed an additional $1 Million for the program in the 2015-16 Education Trust Fund budget for a total of $5.27 Million.
“Advanced Placement courses offer our students a good chance to succeed in college and in future careers,” Governor Robert Bentley said. “I am committed to building on the success of programs like A+ College Ready, which work to expand AP courses in Alabama schools. Through this proven public-private partnership, Alabama gains future leaders prepared to take on the skilled positions companies desire.”
At an event on April 7th, State School Superintendent Tommy Bice recognized the new schools, and gave credit to the partnership between the ALSDE and A+ College Ready for helping thousands of Alabama students become college and career ready.
“Our work together since 2008 has helped ensure that many Alabama students are better prepared to succeed when they get to college and have competitive skills in critical thinking and problem solving,” Dr. Bice said. “I am confident that our continued partnership will allow many more students to experience success in college and beyond.”
The schools invited to join the ALSDE / A+ College Ready Program in the 2014-15 school year will be the eighth group of schools participating in this statewide college readiness program, in which almost half of all Alabama public school districts have applied to participate.
“We are so excited to be able to offer our students the fantastic opportunities of an expanded college readiness program, and expect to see great things accomplished over the next three years,” said Rocky Smith, Principal at Park Crossing High School. Park Crossing is one of the new schools joining the ALSDE/A+ College Ready Program this fall. Smith went on to say, “The class of 2016 will be our first graduating class, and we know that the rigor and depth they experience through Advanced Placement courses will better prepare them for whatever they decide to do in the future.”
The 30 schools joining the ALSDE/A+ College Ready Program for Cohort VIII are:
| School | District |
| Cohort VIII Program Schools | |
| Albertville High School | Albertville City |
| Baldwin County High School | Baldwin County |
| Billingsley High School | Autauga County |
| Etowah High School | Attalla City |
| Fairview High School | Cullman County |
| Gulf Shores High School | Baldwin County |
| Leeds High School | Leeds City |
| Ohatchee High School | Calhoun County |
| Oneonta High School | Oneonta City |
| Park Crossing High School | Montgomery County |
| Ragland High School | St. Clair County |
| Robertsdale High School | Baldwin County |
| Springville High School | St. Clair County |
| White Plains High School | Calhoun County |
| Winterboro High School | Talladega County |
15 of the 30 schools were selected to participate as Pipeline Schools. These schools will institute an aggressive training program designed to increase the number of students enrolled and succeeding in rigorous coursework in an effort to prepare for a full implementation of Advanced Placement courses the following year:
| Cohort VIII Pipeline Schools | |
| BB Comer High School | Talladega County |
| Beulah High School | Lee County |
| Chickasaw High School | Chickasaw City |
| Chilton County High School | Chilton County |
| Fayetteville High School | Talladega County |
| Good Hope High School | Cullman County |
| Greensboro High School | Hale County |
| Hale County High School | Hale County |
| Loachapoka High School | Lee County |
| Northside High School | Tuscaloosa County |
| Pelham High School | Pelham City |
| Sulligent High School | Lamar County |
| Sumter Central High School | Sumter County |
| Walter Wellborn High School | Calhoun County |
| West Point High School | Cullman County |
For the 2015-16 school year, the 30 newly selected high schools are collectively projected to accomplish the following goals:
- Implement over 80 AP courses in math, science, and English (MSE)
- Add over 2100 new enrollments to AP MSE courses
- Reach a goal of students earning over 800 new qualifying scores on AP MSE exams
- Aggressively expand enrollment in courses in 7th-10th grade that lead up to AP courses to create a pipeline of students prepared for college-level work
- Significantly increase the number of students meeting critical college-ready benchmarks on ACT-based assessments
The ALSDE / A+ College Ready Program provides extensive training and support for teachers and students in high school and middle school. For teachers this includes:
- Weeklong summer training institutes
- Additional days of professional development throughout the year
- Ongoing support and coaching from expert Content Directors
- Financial stipends based on academic results
- Funding for equipment infrastructure to implement AP courses
Students participate in Saturday study sessions led by experienced master teachers, have reduced exam fees, and can earn financial incentives based on academic success.
A+ College Ready, a division of the A+ Education Partnership, was created with a $13.2 million grant from the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI) in 2008 to implement a proven Advanced Placement training and stipend initiative in public schools throughout Alabama. Key leadership involved in launching and supporting A+ College Ready included the Governor, the State Superintendent of Education, the Alabama Power Foundation, The Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative, Regions Financial Corporation, Boeing and ExxonMobil Corporation. The Alabama State Legislature, with additional support from the Appalachian Regional Commission, the National Science Foundation, the US Department of Education, and the Department of Defense, now fund the ALSDE/A+ College Ready Program so the program can continue to thrive.
For more information, please visit http://www.apluscollegeready.org, www.nms.org, and www.alsde.edu.
