A+ College Ready Announces Cohort 19 Program Schools for the 2026-2027 School Year

In the 2026-2027 school year, students from multiple Alabama public school districts will be able to participate in A+ College Ready, a statewide initiative that partners with secondary schools to develop a diverse pipeline of students prepared for success in college, career, and life through expanding access to Advanced Placement (AP) and other challenging coursework in grades 6-12. Participating schools receive high-quality training, incentives, curricular materials, classroom resources, student study sessions, AP exam subsidies, and other ongoing support through two different offerings, listed below.

Schools receive support for Advanced Placement students and teachers, as well as training, classroom resources, and incentives for ALL teachers of science, English, social studies, computer science, art, and Spanish. The Alabama State Department of Education has partnered with A+ College Ready for more than 15 years to develop this initiative, serving the majority of Alabama’s high schools during that time. In addition to the APTIP, A+ College Ready also offers a program focused solely on middle schools. This program, modeled after the successful APTIP, provides high-quality training, incentives, curricular materials, classroom resources, and support to raise academic expectations and increase rigor in middle grades, ensuring students are ready for their high school curriculum.

A+ College Ready is building on the momentum of Alabama’s unprecedented success on Advanced Placement exams. Since 2008, Alabama has jumped from 43rd to 20th in the nation in the number of AP exams taken per 1,000 students. In spring 2025, Alabama students earned a record number of 33,312 qualifying scores–an increase of 4,499 qualifying scores in a single year. These qualifying scores have the potential to save Alabama families over $49,968,000 in college tuition costs.

“A+ College Ready is honored to announce our Cohort 19 Program Schools. Each of these schools has expressed a deep commitment to increasing academic expectations in their schools for ALL students. We look forward to a fruitful partnership resulting in students better prepared for future success,” said Dieatra Howie, Vice President, A+ College Ready.

Middle and high schools joining the APTIP and MSTIP ALSDE/A+ College Ready Program for Cohort 19
Albertville High School, Albertville City
Albertville Middle School, Albertville City
Empower School, Charter School
Hokes Bluff High School, Etowah County
Southside High School, Etowah
Chapman Middle School, Huntsville City
Huntsville Junior High School, Huntsville City
Ronald McNair Middle School, Huntsville City
Leeds High School, Leeds City
Albert P. Brewer High School, Morgan County
Nichols-Lawson Middle School, Sylacauga City
Talladega High School, Talladega City
Northside High School, Tuscaloosa County
Northside Middle School, Tuscaloosa County

“At Leeds High School, we are proud to partner with A+ College Ready as part of our ongoing commitment to excellence. This collaboration strengthens our ability to prepare students for success beyond high school and supports multiple pathways, whether college or career. Through this partnership, our teachers will be equipped with the resources and support needed to empower every student to achieve their highest potential. We are excited about the opportunities this partnership provides!” said Joey Miller, Principal, Leeds High School.

“We are thrilled to join forces with A+ College Readiness! At Chapman Middle School, we believe every student deserves access to high-quality instruction and high expectations—and this partnership helps us push our Chargers even further,” said Donna Peavy, Principal of Chapman Middle School.

ABOUT A+ COLLEGE READY
A+ College Ready, a program of A+ Education Partnership, holds the unshakeable belief that ALL students can achieve at high levels. This proven program partners with secondary schools to develop a diverse pipeline of students prepared for success in college, career, and life. A+ College Ready’s high-quality, content-specific teacher training and rigorous curricula are fully aligned with the Alabama Courses of Study and the College Board’s AP requirements. We support 48 total courses in math, science, English, social studies, computer science, art, and Spanish, comprised of 29 non-AP courses and 19 AP courses. Since 2008, A+ College Ready has partnered with 482 schools. In addition to the aforementioned programs, A+ College Ready also supports teachers through the Individual AP Teacher Training & Incentive Program (ITIP), a program for individual AP teachers who are new to teaching an AP course or wish to expand success in their AP courses.
A+ Education Partnership works to create an Alabama where every student has access to a world-class education, regardless of circumstance. Driven by our relentless belief in every child, we partner with educators, communities, and policymakers to advocate for and expand access to a high-quality education so that every student can thrive.