(The Reminder – Mike Lydick) West Springfield High School is one of 26 high schools in Massachusetts to be recognized this year by the College Board for its commitment to expand access to Advanced Placement courses for minority students.
Educators from WSHS were presented with an AP Access Award at the Statehouse on April 5. This is the first year the school received this annual award honoring Massachusetts high schools that have increased access to AP courses.
WSHS received the College Board award for increasing the number of its Black and Hispanic students taking AP courses and the AP Exam for college.
To meet the criteria for this year’s award, Massachusetts high schools had to have at least 40 Black and Hispanic students, or 40 low-income students, take the 2022 AP Exam. In addition, they had to achieve an overall five-year increase of at least 30% of students in these groups taking the exam from 2017 to 2022.
“WSHS has worked hard to increase the number of students as a whole that have access to more rigorous coursework, which will better prepare them for college and a career,” said Patrick Danby, the school’s principal. “We also focus on increasing access and enrollment for students from underrepresented groups.”
Danby said WSHS also began offering pre-AP courses that are open to all students. These courses are intended to help students build the skills they will need to take AP-level classes.
“Counselors, teachers and administrators also worked to encourage students to push themselves by choosing higher level courses, such as AP,” he said.
Maria Silvestri, vice principal of curriculum and instruction at WSHS and its AP coordinator, traveled to Boston to accept the award with two AP teachers from the school, Nate Brom, who teaches AP Seminar, AP Research and Pre-AP English I, and Shaun Tharaldson, who teaches AP European History and Pre-AP World History.
Silvestri said the school increased its number of AP participants through an intensive marketing campaign. It provided information to all WSHS families about the AP program and explained that it was open to any students who wanted to challenge themselves with rigorous classes.
“We informed parents that AP teachers all receive training that enables them to teach these classes with the necessary expertise and also provide additional support to students who might need it as they complete the course,” said Silvestri.
She explained that a partnership between AP teachers and students gradually reduced the stigma that AP courses were not for everyone. Additionally, the school started offering pre-AP courses to ninth graders.
“That gave our students some preliminary exposure to the rigor of these classes and encouraged more students to attempt AP classes in their later years,” said Silvestri.
Silvestri said the number of students taking AP courses and the AP Exam increased between 2018 and 2022, as did the number and percentage of students who scored higher than a three. AP Exams are graded on a five-point scale, with a 3 being equivalent to a “C” in letter grades.
The College Board is a not-for-profit organization that administers the program of college-level courses and tests at high schools.
According to the organization, research shows that students who receive AP opportunities are more likely to pursue higher education and enter college with the preparation and confidence to thrive. Scores of 4 or 5 on AP tests can often exempt students from entry-level or prerequisite courses at college.
“The AP Program is proud to celebrate schools that have successfully expanded access to advanced coursework,” said Jenny Caccavale, director of the College Board’s K-12 services.
“Participating in AP courses can have a powerful impact on students’ college plans and career ambitions.”
In addition to the awards, the College Board hosted its third annual Advanced Placement Day to lobby state lawmakers for equal access to AP courses across the state. Silvestri, Brom and Tharaldson joined teachers and administrators from the 25 other schools to urge legislators to provide more funding for AP Exams for low-income students.
The school’s vice principal and two teachers met with state Rep. Michael Finn (D-West Springfield) to discuss the issue. Finn said West Springfield is a diverse community with students coming from many different walks of life, with many students unfortunately facing financial barriers when it comes to paying for AP Exams.
“This creates an unfair disadvantage and barrier for these students,” he said. “It’s essential that all students, regardless of their background or household income, have access to AP courses and a quality education. Investing in our students and their education is a wise investment in the future of our community.”
Finn said he supports initiatives to increase funding to help low-income students offset the costs of taking AP Exams.
“A student’s access to AP Exams should not be limited because of their income,” he said. “I look forward to continuing to work with West Springfield Public Schools — and the school systems of the other three communities I represent — to ensure they have funding and resources to make this happen.”
Silvestri said the fee for an AP Exam is $97. However, the state provides a subsidy for low-income students to reduce their costs to $62. WSHS also allows students to pay over time, so that all students are able to pay for the exam.
State Sen. John Velis (D-Westfield) was unable to meet with the educators because he was attending events in his district, but he did issue a statement that he said he was “thrilled” that WSHS was recognized by the College Board.
“Advanced Placement courses allow students to experience advanced-level coursework and develop important skills, all while earning credit that they can later use towards a college degree,” said Velis. “We need to expand access to these valuable programs across the board to ensure that all students are able to access and benefit from these educational opportunities.”