This post was contributed by the Diocese of Grand Rapids in Michigan.
For the second year in a row, the Diocese of Grand Rapids Education Office has been named to the AP® District Honor Roll. This honor recognizes the success of all four high schools in the diocese: Grand Rapids Catholic Central High School, West Catholic High School in Grand Rapids, Muskegon Catholic Central High School and St. Patrick High School in Portland. The Diocese of Grand Rapids Education Office is one of 425 school districts in the U.S. and Canada being honored on the 6th Annual AP® District Honor Roll and one of only 15 districts in Michigan.
To be included on the 6th Annual Honor Roll, the high schools had to, since 2013, increase the number of students participating in AP while also increasing or maintaining the number of students earning AP Exam scores of three or higher. Students must receive at least a three out of a five on an exam to be eligible for college credit after taking the high school course.
Catholic schools in the Diocese of Grand Rapids are committed to expanding the availability of AP courses to prepared and motivated students of all backgrounds. This past year, more than 400 students took one or more AP Exams and our students continue to excel in these academic areas with more than 100 students being named AP Scholars. The AP Scholar Award is granted to students who receive scores of three or higher on three or more AP Exams.
In 2015, more than 3,800 colleges and universities around the world received AP scores for college credit, advanced placement, and/or consideration in the admission process, with many colleges and universities in the United States offering credit in one or more subjects for qualifying AP scores. Inclusion on the 6th Annual AP® District Honor Roll is based on the examination of three years of AP data, from 2013 to 2015, looking across 34 AP Exams. The following criteria were used to determine the award.
Districts must:
- Increase participation/access to AP by at least 4 percent in large districts, at least 6 percent in medium districts, and at least 11 percent in small districts;
- Increase or maintain the percentage of exams taken by African American, Hispanic/Latino, and American Indian/Alaska Native students; and
- Improve or maintain performance levels when comparing the percentage of students in 2015 scoring a three or higher to those in 2013, unless the district has already attained a performance level at which more than 70 percent of its AP students are scoring a three or higher.
For the complete 6th Annual AP® District Honor Roll, please click here.
Catholic schools in the Diocese of Grand Rapids serve more than 6,400 students within a six county area of West Michigan. The diocese includes 25 elementary and four high schools. Connect with the Office of Catholic Schools on Facebook (Catholic Schools – Diocese of Grand Rapids) and Twitter (@dogrschools). For additional information, visit the diocesan schools website, www.CatholicSchools4U.org.
