Lynn Classical boasts 14 AP Scholars

LYNN-Sealed in plastic and closed shut with stickers, the College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) tests are protected as if they possessed all the answers of the universe.After a full year – summers included – of studying at the level of a college sophomore, the exam is administered to high school juniors and seniors enrolled in the AP program to determine if the students are worthy of college credits in that subject.While the courses are demanding on their own, students say the test is challenging on a level that makes the SAT and MCAS look like coloring books.But a group of Lynn Classical students managed to conquer the AP program last spring, as 10 individuals earned the designation of AP Scholars, and four as AP Scholars with Honors.To become an AP Scholar a student must achieve a grade of three or higher on three or more exams, which are scored on a scale of one to five. AP Scholars with Honors achieved a score of 3.75 or higher on at least four AP exams.”The AP test is more in depth and a lot more difficult than the MCAS,” said AP Scholar Eric Silva. “You have to know more specific things, rather than just general information like ?what is photosynthesis.'”Classical offers the program in several subject areas, including biology, history, calculus, English, statistics, English literature and composition, French, Spanish, German and economics.Teachers who want to offer a course must prepare a curriculum for the program that is reviewed and approved by the College Board.Students can enroll in as many courses as they would like, but must complete a series of summer assignments on deadline and projects during the school year. As a reward for their hard work, the AP test awaits them at the end of the year, covering the subject in detail and testing the students’ knowledge at a college level.In 2006, juniors Amy Bourgeois, Kelsey Cowdell, Evan D’Avolio, Gerry Anne Jean, Emily Pring and Silva joined seniors Corey Cheever, Vincente Gonzalez, James Khun and Sandra Korpalska as AP Scholars, and juniors Brian Coffill, Eliana Field and Maria Renken joined senior Courtney D’Entremont as AP Scholars with Honors.Depending on the colleges these students attend, their passing scores on the test could mean an extra three college credits in each course, and at the very least, mean a very noteworthy distinction to be included on applications.”Since we are taking the college level courses, it helps to prepare you for the subject in college,” said Pring. “It is definitely something to put on the application.”Of the 1.4 million high school students in the country who enroll in the AP program each year, only 18 percent achieve AP Scholar distinction, which comes with a certificate and the possible college credit. The College Board does not offer monetary scholarships for these students.”These students work hard for the courses, for a student to take three or four of these courses it isn’t just being in the classroom, they have work to do over the summer with deadlines they have to meet,” said Classical Dean of Students Christine Lander. For a student to put in that sort of dedication really says something.”