May 9, 2001 – Next fall, for the first time, all four of the territory's public high schools will offer advanced placement courses, giving gifted and motivated students the opportunity to take college-level classes in five disciplines.
Charlotte Amalie and Ivanna Eudora Kean High Schools on St. Thomas, and Central High and the Education Complex on St. Croix will offer advanced placement classes in English language and composition, calculus AB, U.S. history, Spanish language and biology.
This school year, the only advanced-placement courses offered at U.S. history at Central and U.S. history and English language at the Education Complex.
Tulip Fleming, program manager, said the expansion of the program is federally funded. She did not specify the amount of the grant.
Consultants endorsed by the College Board will conduct a training institute for those who will be teaching and overseeing the courses. It will take place July 9-13 on the University of the Virgin Islands St. Croix campus. Fleming said a total of 54 teachers, department chairs and subject area coordinators will take part.
The Education Department, which is sponsoring the institute, also will conduct ongoing workshops for the advanced placement educators.
Schools identify students for advanced placement courses using various criteria, Fleming said, including their SAT or PSAT standardized test results, their previous courses taken and grades earned, and their interest and willingness to do the extra work required in the college-level classes.
Fleming said there are still openings for the summer institute. Private and parochial teachers interested in attending should telephone her at 774-0100, ext. 3159.
