Newsweek 2006 Best high schools

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<p>“In this case, research has shown that kids who took AP courses in HS do better in college.”</p>

<p>NMD, I just quoted the words of Gaston Caperton in the other AP thread. Despite his possible bias, it seems that the research of TCB indicates that merely taking an AP class does not provide a strong indicator of success in college. WHat is needed is taking the class AND scoring satisfactorily on the AP exam. </p>

<p>Changing gears a bit, this article illustrates that the benefits of the AP program are still being evaluated, and that changes might be forthcoming:</p>

<p>

In new research that’s getting serious national attention from heavy-hitters like the College Board, Conley lays out a subject-by-subject blueprint for what he says students need to know to succeed in college. </p>

<p>“From research universities, liberal-arts schools, community colleges, we get similar feedback — students are all over the map,” Conley said. “It’s not clear to anyone the level of competence at which students need to attain.” </p>

<p>The research is being studied by school districts around the country while the nonprofit College Board is using Conley’s work to map out the evolution of some of its popular Advanced Placement courses and exams, which are designed to let high-school students test out of entry-level courses in college. </p>

<p>The College Board is using Conley’s research to assess how well its AP courses dovetail with what students need to know in college, at a time when AP participation nationwide is booming. According to the College Board, one in five high-school students took an AP course and exam last year, up from 16 percent in 2000. </p>

<p>Over the next year, Conley’s team at the Center for Education Policy Research at the University of Oregon will be analyzing AP courses in U.S. history, biology, chemistry, physics, European history, world history and environmental science. </p>

<p>The plan is to recruit 2,500 college faculty members in those subjects at about 100 schools across the country to detail the material they’re teaching to college freshmen. </p>

<p>Researchers will then identify college courses in each of the seven subjects to serve as a “best practices” college-teaching model for AP high-school classes across the nation.

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<p><a href=“http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/education/2002284818_apclasses23.html[/url]”>http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/education/2002284818_apclasses23.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>In addition, one should also note the recent announcement of the National Science Foundation’s award of $1.8 million to the College Board to redesign advanced placement courses in biology, chemistry, physics, and environmental science. The award reflects a concern that science and math instruction must be revamped in order to to strengthen America’s global competitiveness.</p>

<p><a href=“http://education.zdnet.com/?p=172[/url]”>http://education.zdnet.com/?p=172&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;