From Harford County Public Schools:
The national high school challenge project, known as the “Challenge Index,” is compiled by The Washington Post each year. This year, seven of the 10 Harford County public high schools have been named on the list of the nation’s top schools.
The Challenge Index identifies high schools that offer a rigorous instructional program based on high numbers of students taking either Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) tests. Schools are given a score by dividing the number of AP or IB tests taken by all students at a school by the number of graduating seniors. The resulting ratio score is used to rank schools in the survey.
This year’s seven HCPS schools, which are among 123 Maryland schools on the list, are:
– C. Milton Wright High School (ranked 63 in Maryland)
– Aberdeen High School (82)
– Bel Air High School (93)
– Fallston High School (105)
– Patterson Mill High School (107)
– Edgewood High School (110)
– North Harford High School (112)
“We are extremely proud of our seven high schools for this recognition, and we are equally as proud of our staff for their dedication to the success of our students,” said Superintendent of Schools Robert M. Tomback. “We remain committed to ensuring our students are reaching their highest level of achievement and are prepared for college.”
The complete High School Challenge may be found at http://apps.washingtonpost.com/highschoolchallenge/.
It doesn’t matter whether or not students are prepared, or do well on the AP tests. The only measure is that students take as many of them as possible. This is a statistic that is easily manipulated and really has no value other than to recognize that this was one of Tomback’s mandates to the schools.
You are 100% correct. Talk to the students. Honors classes are now being omitted in favor of their cousin – the AP version of the same class, thus positioning a larger number of students to take the AP class over the standard class – this is all that matters to the education bureaucrats!! Bogus bean-counting and they are now beating their chests. Teachers are forced to teach to an AP test and that test alone – nothing else matters because this is the metric employed to evaluate teacher, school and school district performance.
Teachers teach to the AP test in those classes because they are AP classess. The whole point of an AP class is to prepare students for an AP test which tests the content that would be taught in an introductory college course on the subject.
I am not normally an advocate of teaching to the test but in these classes I am. The AP Biology tests assumes that students completed 11 common labs. If you did not do these 11 labs you can not do well on the test as one of them is the basis for one of the Essay Questions.
But they are eliminating “honors” and only offering “regular” and AP. Honors was formerly the track for those college-bound students. It was used as that mechanism to prepare students for college. Now, it has been supplanted by AP AND more importantly, is not geared toward teaching the content necessary for college prep, but to take that one exam – the AP exam, which by the way, is not required simply because you took the class, nor reflective of understanding the content of the said course. It’s work for a test, not to learn – again, taking education out of education.
Just a side effect of reducing staff is reducing course offerings. AP courses are glitzy and look good their point is to offer college level rigor. I agree to some extent there is a push to put kids in AP and that hurts the real AP Kids. That said any teacher not teaching to prepare kids for an AP exam in an AP class is not doing their job!!!!!
Strongly agree, HCPS does not like to talk about the distribution of AP scores, usually they’ll only mention the percentage getting 3 or higher, not the 4+ or 5 rate. A 3 is equivalent to a C- in a community college course. Is that the standard we want to use for success?
Eliminating Honors classes to force students into AP (as everyone knows they’ll get a better classroom experience than in a College Prep class) is also disingenuous. But, I do not agree with Fed Up’s dislike for teaching to the AP test, the point of the program is to ensure that all of the students who pass know the material contained on it. The AP tests are also much harder and more encompassing than the typical standardized state-wide test.
Kharn – I’m in no way comparing the AP test and any standardized test. From what I’m seeing, the content of the AP tests are absolutely not giving the students the benefits of a regular classroom experience. There are teachers who do not even understand the AP tests teaching AP classes in our high schools – their discussions are intentionally narrowed to fit the multiple choice options that will appear on that test, thereby shutting down discussion outside that scope or the classroom’s ability to have an open conversation on “that book they just read.” I’m seeing and hearing about it every single day in multiple AP classes.
Check out a hard science AP classroom and you will find a very different environment. You would crash and burn inside a month if you tried to teach AP Physics without a strong understanding of both calculus and physics.
Am curious to see how many of these students actually are passing their AP classes or pass the final AP exam. Looks like the numbers only represent how many students are taking the classes, and some of these students have been forced into taking AP classes they didn’t want to take to just get the numbers up.
I am only speaking about what takes place at AHS. Can’t say for sure that takes place at the other schools in the county.
I believe you are hitting the nail on the head. In my day, to take any type of advanced course you had to have the grades for it. In today’s world, you need to have a pulse. Which leads me to something that I have mentioned in the past….I have no issues with a merit-type pay system, BUT how can you hold an AP teacher accountable for helping a student with a 1.25 GPA to pass a college-level exam within the course of one school year????
AP needs to mean ADVANCED PLACEMENT or I can see colleges and universities no longer taking passing scores as credit.
Reggie,
I agree. Also, where is the incentive to help the student with the 1.25 GPA?
And if the student has a 1.25, wouldn’t it be a victory to get that student to perform at the “C” level in an AP course?
Yes, and even a bigger victory to have the student with a 1.25 GPA to get an A in a class that isn’t AP and actually be able to get into to college. Colleges focus on GPA’s and SAT scores, not AP class accomplishment.
Many colleges and Universities have already begun to decline college credit for AP classes.
Your grade does not get you credit…..your exam score does. The teacher does not score nor create the exam.
If you are in the SMA you are “forced” to take these classes because you signed up for it. That is a clear expectation of the program.
I have been told by parents of SMA students that when they have tried to have their child removed from AP classes Mr.O’Brien wouldn’t allow it and completely dismissed them and their concerns. It is all about manipulating statistics/numbers on paper for his own self serving agenda, not the best interest of the students.
If a student can’t hack an AP class while at the SMA, they need to return to their local high school and let a better student have their slot.
Sorry that is what you signed up for when you applied. If you can’t hack it stop wasting my tax dollars giving you these extra opportunities and let them go to a more deserving kid. Your classes are laid out for you up front in that program!!!!
There are only about 4 AP classes that are required for SMA students-and I have had 2 in the program. My oldest took 7, and my youngest is on track for taking 9 or 10. Ap English is not a requirement for SMA. Many students in years past took honors level, but that is no longer an option. It is Ap or regular level only. Colleges don’t even care so much that you take the exam, but do want to see that you took honors or higher level classes.
So Aberdeen Parent, would you agree that in the cases where it is not required, like English if one selects the class you should stick with it?
Yes, I do agree in staying in a class for which you registered. Most of the SMA students (and parents) I know also feel this way. There is also the stigma of not challenging yourself-these kids push themselves to really be the best that they can. However, I do think honors level is still needed. Not every student is able to be successful in every subject at the AP level.
My point was that regardless of whether it was SMA or General Ed, it is NOT a requirement for the program. However due to the principal’s self serving agenda he forces it on students even when parents object. It is all about stats, and doing ANYTHING he can to have them in his favor. This is often at the cost of a students future, but he doesn’t care, and isn’t encouraged to care by his superiors.
To be objective are you sure you are not wearing tinted glasses?
It is what it is. I have experienced the lengths this man will go to simply to keep his stats looking good. Tinted glasses, no not at all, just a disappointing reality.
Agreed but as was suggested when you start seeing staff reductions one of the things you see is a decrease in course offerings. It sucks but it happens.
It’s just more anecdotal evidence, but a former student of mine was told that the only way that Mr. O’Brien would let her out of the AP U.S. History class she was taking (and usurping the authority of the counseling office, by the way) was if she failed the first two quarters. What responsible educator would force a student to sabotage their own grade to get a schedule change?
Also, if I recall correctly, Aberdeen High School is currently the recipient of over six figures in grant money that is specifically purposed towards increasing the numbers of students who take AP courses. To that end, he (and he alone) made the decision last year to eliminate many “Honors” sections and dump everyone who had registered for those classes into the AP sections for that course. These are not the actions of a responsible educator looking out for the best interests of his students. They are the actions of a master manipulator on a power trip, one who bullied and browbeat teachers, parents, students, and staff. You may be right that Ms. Lindecamp has a jaded opinion of Mr. O’Brien, but she has every reason and right to have one. I no longer have any vested interest in AHS beyond my continued friendship with former colleagues and students, and I can say with conviction that he is a petty, vindictive, and narrow-minded person, and how he has manipulated the AP system to his benefit is just one example.
Seems as if this has become quite the forum for name calling and slander. Speaking of self-serving agendas…
Mabel,
I agree, my comments do come across as if they are from a self serving agenda. That self serving agenda is to try to make parents aware that it is evidence based that certain administrators throughout HCPS do not hold a student’s best interest above their own political/professional advancement. I would hope someone would do the same for me.
I apologize if I get off topic in my comments. I honestly do try to stay focused on the subject matter at hand, however I am the mother of a student who has been hurt by the hand of these HCPS administrators directly. I have decided, after reading this thread of comments that I probably need to stop commenting. I apologize once again if I wasn’t being objective, that was not my intention.
I’m even more curious how many students who score 1, 2, or 3 on the AP exams (not even really eligible to get the college credit at most schools) go on to be excellent students in college? I have seen straight A students score “substandard” grades on the AP exams, yet they are college-bound, motivated, hard-working students. On the contrary, it is the school district who is getting the accolades for that student merely taking that class, yet they took that class only because of the stigma attached to “regular XXX course”. Doesn’t really feel like an education to me.
Many of the schools will only offer the AP class of a subject. If my kid had taken Geography this year on AP Geography was offered.
That is probably a staffing issue. With high schools losing staffing, the first thing to go are 1/2 credit electives.
In HCPS, there is no such thing as a Geography course. In years past that was the traditional ninth grade social studies course, but it was phased out a long time ago.
I am so relieved that the powers to be are so “proud” of the staff of the schools who are listed in the top ten. It’s just too bad that those staff members and the rest of the teachers in Harford County are treated like crap by the school system. You want to show your appreciation HCPS, stop violating the contract every teacher signed and begin honoring it by funding teacher steps and funding education. Money talks and false praise walks!
And off-topic whining does not help your cause.
While it is rewarding that CMilton is recognized as one of the top schools for its AP students; it is sad that the other students may be falling by the wayside. My Grandson attends CMilton in the 9th grade and is not doing very well. His parents have contacted a few of his teachers on numerous occasions this year regarding his performance and received NO response. The saddest part for me is that he is VERY capable to do the work and it seems like none of his teachers have picked up on his ability or taken an interest in him to support him or guide him. I understand that teachers are overworked and underpaid, I work in the school system myself. My Grandson was supposed to have a “senior” mentor to assist him with his courses, but no one followed through on this. So, does this mean you need to be in the AP classes to get the support and attention in this school for a better education?
welcome to public education! you get what you pay for….
Hmm, washington post.. take a look at the “list”, the beat ranked Maryland schools start in Montgomery and princegeorges county..
Hmmm…
They have been playing the “game” for this longer. This list is a game because as mentioned it only measures test taken in proportion to senior enrollment. At first the intention was good but schools clamor to get on the list that they institute policies which raise their rate but do it at the expense of watering down the course. Unless you are in a specialized program like SMA or IB AP course enrollment should be strictly a choice. Taking the test should be required to keep one focused on the goal of the class and keep out the “resume” building students.
One way to encourage the students to take the test would be to require they provide payment to the school for the test when they enroll in the class, and prohibit seniors who skipped a test their junior year from participating in sports, band or other prestigious clubs (yearbook, etc). I’m not sure on an effective way to get seniors to take their tests, maybe mark their transcripts with a note that they did not take the test?
PG and Montegomry are also much larger and able to play better games with magnet schools (or haves vs have-nots) than HCPS.
That too. They have three high schools with larger SMA type schools. That does not include the schools with VPA, IB and other magnet programs.
I agree with many comments made on this post regarding the abilities of students and the challenges facing teachers, however, don’t be shaded into thinking AP is appropriate for all students, Honors should be an alternative. Some teachers are not trained nor capable of teaching the AP material – I’ve experienced that first hand. I would rather my child take a “regular” course and learn the material than take an AP class to prove something to whom I’m not sure. After my child has taken 5 different AP level courses, failed all 5 tests (to the tune of lost $$) based on the “recommendations” of the school principal, I highly discourage AP courses being forced on students. Meanwhile, my young adult went on to college and received A’s in the college courses (not college prep) and received a 4.0 in college. Perhaps the difference in learning environments is the reason, but the point is my child is not stupid nor unmotivated. If the public school system is going to force AP/college prep on students then they need to provide the expertise to teach them properly. Perhaps a better solution would be to skip the “prep” and bring college professors into the public system to teach a course that will fulfill the state graduation requirements and allow the students to earn college credit – it would only cost a little more for the college course (and credit) than paying for a test that may or may not be accepted by a college.
Maybe I am missing something. We are speaking poorly of Aberdeen? Didn’t they rank ahead of some traditional Harford County powerhouse schools? I think all the schools deserve a congratulations….especially since teacher salaries are pretty low comparatively.
In many ways the AP numbers at Aberdeen are skewed by the fact that most of the 200 SMA students will have taken between 7 and 10 AP exams before they graduate, and for the vast majority of them there will have been no choice in the matter. There is very little room for variation in the typical SMA student’s schedule. They are expected to take AP exams in Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Physics, Chemistry, and Statistics, with the options then to take AP classes in Computer Science as well as two in History, two in English, a foreign language and some other courses. With the removal of the “honors” sections of many of these classes, the SMA student is forced to choose between AP and general sections, and it is a false choice as no self-respecting SMA student would take a general section of a class.
That’s not really much different than the 200 + students at Edgewood that are required to take IB (which are counted in the Challenge Index) and AP courses and exams before they graduate. They too have to do away with some of the traditional courses in order to offer their higher level counterparts. It’s pretty sad that we, as a community, can’t just be proud of the hard work that students and teachers are doing without analyzing it to death. In any school, any student who takes higher level courses, for whatever the reason, should be encouraged and praised. I think it’s fantastic that 2 “Route 40” schools have made this list.