Grayslake High wants more students in advanced courses

Grayslake High School District 127 is continuing its push to have students take a higher level of courses designed to better prepare them for college.

In a presentation by two administrators Thursday night, District 127 board members learned the advanced placement program has grown exponentially. Offerings have gone from two such courses in the 1994-95 academic year to 16 in 2007-08.

"It should be every student's goal to try an AP course while in high school," said Grayslake Central High School Associate Principal Rita Fischer, who gave the presentation with Grayslake North math department chair Jim Roscoe.

Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire is among the leaders in advanced placement courses for students in Lake County. Stevenson spokesman Jim Conrey said 32 AP courses attracted 1,493 students last year.

Advanced placement student enrollment is 1,032 at Grayslake Central and North high schools, up from 932 in the 2007-08 academic season. There were 569 pupils who took AP courses in the 2005-06 school year.

Fischer said high school students are more prepared to enter college if they take the higher-level courses and tests. She presented research to the District 127 board showing students who take AP classes and exams are much more likely than their peers to earn a bachelor's degree in four years or less.

Roscoe said Grayslake North and Central are trying to stoke interest in AP courses by hosting an eighth-grade night and open house. The high schools also hold a recognition of AP scholars.

"One of our big things is communication with parents," Roscoe said.

U.S. history, psychology, statistics, calculus and biology are among the more difficult advanced placement courses available in the Grayslake high school system.

It's seen as way to be better prepared for college. More students are taking the higher-level courses than in past years.