Let the People Be Heard: Black HS Students’ Experiences on AP Courses

To Aswad Walker word in black

There is evidence that black high school students experience very real barriers to accessing advanced placement courses. High school classes that allow students to earn college credit, or college preparation courses that are better than standard high school courses (in theory).

Advocates called to receive real stories from you, people, about your experiences with this issue and about parents, teachers, and students. Here’s what you had to say:

“When I entered a rural Georgia high school, my daughter’s counselor discouraged her from signing up for AP courses. Her exact words were, ‘AP courses require a lot of time and I grinned and replied, “Ma’am, she’s entering high school with high school credits. I’m sure she can handle the course load.” She noticed that there were very few black students enrolled in AP courses and only one black teacher, and despite her high grades, AP She also finds out that she can’t get college credit for a course without a Level 3 score on the course test.After taking a few AP courses, she decides not to take the AP tests. has taken a total of 3 AP courses.We have turned to double enrollment as it will greatly benefit her university future.”Hadidja Kaufman)

“I think it’s important to inform parents about the benefits of the dual credit program and AP courses.”Sadey Campbell)

“Black access to AP courses can be a subjective issue based on a student’s public or private school attendance and geographic location. Any questions or information that may be helpful to share is I think the pros/cons AP class that exists, AP is a good GPA booster but most colleges set the bar so high it takes money out of college pocket so accept AP No. The excuse they give is that they found the AP course load not meeting college-level standards and overused, so they demand the mandatory perfect score on the AP exam. and count as transition credits.However, another benefit of AP courses is SAT/ACT preparation.For example, if your child attends an AP math class, he or she will typically have a substantial knowledge advantage over their peers who follow courses in AP classes.Another advantage of AP classes is the student’s college major plus access to internships and top 25 schools.For example, students are placed in the top 25 If you’re considering a program in , and want to major in medicine or engineering, AP courses can act as a resume booster for college applications, but with that said, don’t take AP courses and focus on your main interest. Students who successfully complete an internship and maintain a competitive GPA have a strong advantage in college admissions. Please check with your instructor and the recommended process.It is best to know the rules in advance to plan proactively.” (rose weaver lindsey)

“At Lamar High School, which our daughters attended and graduated from, AP courses are called IB (International Baccalaureate). Students learn the same material but delve deeper into it It’s a lot of work It’s not for everyone For many black students it’s not because many people can’t do the work I believe my friends are choosing not to take them simply because they haven’t attended those courses. Our son tried it when he signed up for a freshman class in high school, but we weren’t going to, and it needs more parents. But no, if your child is on an AP course, you can probably handle it yourself, because you need a certain type of student to get into an AP course. My daughters’ experience in the class was a positive one, they certainly prepared them for college, and the AP/IB courses are more in-depth and therefore increase the student’s comprehension and understanding of the subject matter. We will further promote it.” (Adrian Walker)

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This post was originally published on the Defender Network.