EDUCATION

classes cover more material, move at a faster pace, and require more homework than other classes. He believes the AP classes are preparing him for college as he plans to apply to Georgia Tech and Georgia State. He plans to take AP calculus his senior year.

Kimberly Le took AP calculus as a senior this past year. She had completed AP classes in world history, U. S. history, and European history and observed that AP classes require more critical thinking and a lot more reading in the history classes. She said the key to AP classes is paying attention and keeping up with homework.

“ The teachers are really professional, but we have to teach ourselves, too,” said Le.

Jordan Whitehead, valedictorian of the Mary Persons class of 2012, was one of 330 MP students taking AP classes.

Adair Woodward, another 2012 grad, carried a load of three AP classes last year as well as four other classes. Her favorite was environmental science, which teaches how the earth works. She completed four AP classes in her earlier

high school years. She said the accelerated classes are worth the effort. She has gotten positive feedback on the classes from friends in college who told her the AP classes prepared them well.

“ You have to know the material all the way through and every single thing about it,” said Woodward.

MP counselor Isabell Byas, who is responsible for AP testing and who coordinated the AP Day program and activities, said that any student who is feels up for the challenge can enroll in AP classes. Most of the classes are the same size as other classes at Mary Persons, up to 28 students. Finch expressed pride in both his AP students and

teachers. His records show that 49 percent of Mary Persons students who took AP exams in 2011 scored 3, 4, or 5 on the tests. He said that the state’ s withdrawal of funding for the tests has impacted how many of the AP students take them. The state paid for one AP test for each student for several years until 2011. There were 198 students who took AP tests in 2010 but only 103 who took the tests in 2011, a 48 percent drop. Students who qualify for free or reduced lunch prices, pay $ 57 for each test instead of the $ 87 for each test other students pay. Finch said Mary Persons welcomes assistance with the AP test fees from individuals or groups in the community.