Fact Sheet - Jefferson County Program Schools

A+ College Ready is a statewide Advanced Placement® (AP®) initiative designed to increase the number of students prepared to take rigorous college courses in math and science. This will be accomplished by increasing the enrollment and success of high school students in math, science and English AP courses.

The eight Jefferson County schools selected to receive an Advanced Placement Training and Incentive grant award are:

• Clay-Chalkville High School
• Gardendale High School
• Hueytown High School
• Jefferson County International Baccalaureate High School
• Minor High School
• Pinson Valley High School
• Pleasant Grove High School
• Shades Valley High School

In 2008-2009, combined targets for the eight schools are to:

• Increase AP Course offerings in mathematics, science and English by more than 60 percent
• Increase course enrollments in these classes by 78 percent
• Almost triple the number of qualifying scores (scores of 3, 4, or 5 on the AP exam)

To support this effort, A+ College Ready will invest $500,000 in training and incentives for these eight schools in 2008-2009. Over the next five years, the total value of the grant will exceed $3 million. When investments committed by the state and district are included, the total grows to $914,000 next year and $5.4 million over five years.

All high schools in the Jefferson County system were invited to respond to an RFP released by A+ College Ready. Following a rigorous review process, schools that demonstrated the willingness and capacity to grow their math science and English AP program significantly were invited to participate in the initiative.

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