Hello AP/IB Boosters!

Contents

• Garfield High School, A Public High School in Seattle
• Top 10 Private High Schools in the Greater Seattle Area
• Washington State PTA Supports the Advanced Placement (AP) Program and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program
• PE Credit for After-School Sports or Dance Participation Proposal Comments
• College Fair March 20, 2004 at Seattle University
• UW World Languages Day for High School Students Held on February 27, 2004
• UW Math Day for High School Students on March 22, 2004
• National AP Exam Registration
• Grants to Prep Low-Income Pupils
• Interlake High School International Baccalaureate (IB) Information Night
• The Everett School District Answers Questions Regarding Jackson HS

The legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix, composer Quincy Jones, and martial arts expert Bruce Lee all attended Garfield HS in Seattle. But the real reason why Garfield HS is famous is because of its academics, band, and sports programs - in that order.

Every year, many of Garfield's athletes and sports teams are top contenders. Last year, Garfield Jazz Band won the prestigious Essentially Ellington competition in New York. Only one high school, private or public, in Washington State had more National Merit Semifinalists (Lakeside 30, Garfield 28) this school year.

http://www.apibboosters.org/Newsletters20030925.html

The Garfield HS student newspaper, The Garfield Messenger, is exemplary.

http://www.garfieldmessenger.com/archives.php

Here is a sample edition:

http://www.garfieldmessenger.com/issues/vol_82//MessVol82Iss9.pdf

Garfield HS, like most of the top 10 public high schools in the Greater Seattle Area, is on the modified 6 period day schedule.

The Garfield HS Course Catalog states the following about Honors/Advanced Placement (AP).

"These courses offer a higher level of challenge, and students who accept this challenge can expect to learn more and develop more advanced skills. Success in these courses is helpful in the college admission process. AP courses prepare students for optional, nationally administered AP exams; success on these exams leads to college credit and/or advanced placement at many colleges and universities. All students who meet the minimal course requirements are encouraged to enroll in these challenging courses."

Garfield offers 3 sample graduation plans in its course catalog:

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Garfield High School Registration Guide & Course Descriptions 2004-2005

Garfield High School - Seattle Public Schools Course Descriptions

Garfield High School - Seattle Public Schools  Master Schedule

Each of the sample programs on the next three pages meets requirements for high school graduation. The three programs differ to meet different students’ goals and plans.

Plan I: Designed to meet graduation requirements and should allow admission to many community college programs.

Plan II: Oriented to admission to many four-year public universities including the University of Washington.

Plan III: High powered program for admission to highly competitive colleges.

PLAN I : Goal: High School Graduation - This plan is acceptable for community college admission, but may not permit entrance to all community college programs or transfer to a four-year college.

Grade 9	Grade 10	Grade 11	Grade 12
1st Semester
Language Arts 9A	Language Arts 10A	Language Arts 11A	Language Arts/Elective
World History I	World History III or IV/Health	US History 11A	Amer Govt/Health (04)
Math	Math	Math/Elective	Elective
Biology/Scientific Analysis	Science	Science/Elective	Elective
Physical Education	Physical Education	Elective	Elective
Elective	Elective	Occupational Ed	Occupational Ed/Fine Arts
2nd Semester
Language Arts 9B	Language Arts 10B	Language Arts 11B	Language Arts/Elective
World History II	Health/World History III or IV	US History 11B	Health/Amer Govt
Math	Math	Math/Elective	Elective
Biology/Scientific Analysis	Science	Science/Elective	Elective
Physical Education	Physical Education	Elective	Elective
Elective	Elective	Occupational Ed	Fine Arts/Occupational Ed

PLAN II Goal: Admission to the University of Washington/Washington State University and many public 4-year institutions - This plan should be acceptable to almost any public 4-year institution. These colleges often require SAT or ACT test scores.

Grade 9	Grade 10	Grade 11	Grade 12
1st Semester
Language Arts 9A	Language Arts 10A	Language Arts 11A	Language Arts 12
World History I	World History III or IV/Health	US History 11A	Amer Govt/Elective
Integrated Math 1A	Integrated Math 2A	Integrated Math 3A	Math Analysis
Biology I	Science	Science	Elective
World Language	World Language	World Lang/ Elective	Elective/Fine Arts
Physical Education	Physical Education	Occupational Ed	Occupational Ed
2nd Semester
Language Arts 9B	Language Arts 10B	Language Arts 11B	Language Arts 12
World History II	Health/World History III or IV	US History 11B	Elective/Amer
Integrated Math 1B	Integrated Math 2B	Integrated Math 3B	Math Analysis
Biology II	Science	Science	Fine Arts/Elective
World Language	World Language	World Language/Elective	Elective
Physical Education	Physical Education	Occupational Ed	Occupational Ed

Additional Recommendations:

• Be sure to include electives in college core areas. These areas are Science, Math, English, and Social Studies.
• Some colleges require Chemistry or Physics.
• Take one year of Keyboarding and Computer applications/programming.
• Start your college planning early. Identify colleges that might interest you, and check their requirements. As a Junior, plan to take PSAT and SAT I or ACT.

Garfield High School Registration Guide & Course Descriptions 2004-2005

PLAN III Goal: Maximum Plan for Admission to a Selective College -

This plan, with a high grade point, should be acceptable to almost any college in the United States. Some colleges are interested, too, in evidence of school and community activities. Some colleges also require high test scores on the SAT or ACT and may require SAT II achievement tests.

Grade 9	Grade 10	Grade 11	Grade 12
1st Semester
Language Arts 9AH	Language Arts 10AH	AP Language Arts 11A	AP Language Arts 12
World History IH	AP European History I	AP US History 11A	AP Amer Govt/Elective
Integrated Math 2AH	Integrated Math 3AH	Pre-Calculus I	AP Calculus
Biology I	Science	Science	Science
World Language	World Language	World Language	Fine Arts/Elective
Physical Education	Physical Education/Health	Physical Ed/Occupational Ed	Occupational Ed
2nd Semester
Language Arts 9BH	Language Arts 10BH	AP Language Arts 11B	AP Language Arts 12
World History IIH	AP European History II	AP US History IIB	AP Amer Govt/Elective
Integrated Math 2BH	Integrated Math 3BH	Pre-Calculus II	AP Calculus
Biology II	Science	Science	Science
World Language	World Language	World Language	Elective/Fine Arts
Physical Education	Health/Physical Education	Occupational Ed/Physical Ed	Occupational Ed

Additional Recommendations:

• Continue to carry a strong academic program throughout the senior year.
• Take four years of Language Arts.
• Take as much Math, Science, Art, and/or World Language as possible, depending on interest and plans.
• Take one year of Keyboarding and Computer applications/programming.
• Start college planning early. Identify schools that might interest you and check their requirements.
• As a Junior, plan to take the PSAT and the SAT I or ACT and, if needed, plan which of the SAT II tests you will take and when you will take them.

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Garfield HS is a relatively large school with about 1700 students - the same as Jackson HS. It has a much more diverse student population though with 47% White, 30% Black, 16% Asian, 6% Hispanic and 2% Native American students. It is a model school.

In our last newsletter, we listed the top 10 public high schools as listed in the Seattle Times School Guide and as rated by college admissions officers.

http://www.apibboosters.org/Newsletters20040224.html

http://www.apibboosters.org/TopHighSchools.html

Now we list the top 10 private schools in the Greater Seattle Area based on the same criteria and also reported in the Seattle Times School Guide.

High School	Reputation Rating	Schedule Type	Official AP Courses	Encourage Students To Take AP Exams
Lakeside School, Seattle	4.92	Modified 6 or modified 7 (student choice)		Yes
Holy Names Academy, Seattle	4.62	Straight 6	Yes	Yes
The Northwest School, Seattle	4.35	Modified 7
University Preparatory Academy, Seattle	4.27	Modified 7		Yes
The Overlake School, Redmond	4.17	Modified 7	Yes	Yes
The Bush School, Seattle	4.09	Modified 6
Seattle Preparatory School, Seattle	4.08	Modified 7	Yes	Yes
Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart, Bellevue	3.96	Modified 7	Yes	Yes
Seattle Academy of Arts & Sciences, Seattle	3.83	Modified 7
Bishop Blanchet High School, Seattle	3.67	Straight 6	Yes	Yes

http://www.apibboosters.org/TopHighSchoolsPrivate.html

Again the modified 6 period schedule and the modified 7 period schedule are the most widely used schedules of top schools. This is why we must weather the storm and assist Jackson HS and district staff in JHS's transition from the accelerated 4x4 to a 6 period (preferably modified 6 period) schedule.

It took a little digging but the Washington State PTA has a position paper that we (AP/IB Boosters) could have written. We encourage our local PTAs and PTSAs to review this paper and help promote it.

http://www.wastatepta.org/programs/Legislation/IssuePapers2004.pdf (scroll to page 9)

http://www.wastatepta.org/programs/Legislation/legintro.htm

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FUNDING FOR ADVANCED PLACEMENT AND INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE HONORS PROGRAMS

Washington State PTA – September 2003

Proposed Priority Issues - Briefing Paper

Proposed: The WSPTA shall initiate and/or support legislation and/or policies that provide identified funding for Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) honors programs.

Background: The minimal funding that districts formerly received to support these higher-level curricular offerings was eliminated during the last legislative session. In order to meet the challenge of closing the achievement gap, we need to increase the numbers of students who have access to our AP & IB honors programs. Staff members must be able to access professional development opportunities in order to become skillful in the methodologies and appropriately deliver the curriculum of these highly regarded honors programs.

Briefing Points:

· Research (Adelman, 1999) determined the best predictor of college success (degree attainment) is the rigor of the student’s high school course work.

· Adelman’s research also found that the impact of a high school curriculum of high academic intensity and quality on degree completion is far more pronounced and positive for African-American and Latino students than any other pre-college indicator of academic resources (the composite of high school curriculum, test scores, and class rank).

· Honors level course completion at the high school level is more strongly correlated with bachelor’s degree completion than it is with college access.

· There is no state funding dedicated to AP or IB program support. Such support might include:

• professional development for teachers, counselors, and administrators;
• appropriate student and teacher materials purchased;
• funding for internet access to support student research, on-line coursework and exam preparation;
• exam fee relief;
• support for staff teaming to sustain and expand the program
• working with feeder schools to increase the pool of honors level students; and
• parent education about honors level programs

· Funding (other than district level support) for exam fee reduction has historically come from federal grants but is only provided for low-income students. Exams are approximately $80 per course.

· Many states fund AP and IB programs – California, Texas, Florida, New Mexico, and others.

· The availability of students to access AP or IB coursework is an equity issue. Students in schools not offering AP or IB programs are often overlooked by the best colleges because AP on a transcript is a national standard of excellence; IB on a transcript is an international standard of excellence.

Summary:

As Washington state students rise to the higher standards that have been set, more and more students each year must be able to enter the most challenging honors programs we can provide. In addition, students, especially low-income students, need the financial support necessary to test in the programs. Funding for these programs must come out of existing general funds, thereby shortchanging other programs and potentially diluting the honors curriculum.

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We have received many positive replies to our proposal that high school students should be able to apply after-school or community sports or dance participation towards their PE requirement. This will help athletes maintain their love of school sports (and stay involved in school) and provide more time during normal school hours for getting help with homework, free up a period for electives, or permit students to enroll in other core courses. We will submit an official PE credit policy proposal, similar to Garfield HS's, to the Everett School District.

There is a Spring College Fair at Seattle University on Saturday, March 20, 2004. As always, we recommend that parents of middle school students attend. And of course high school students with their parents in tow should attend. College Fairs are a great opportunity to get the college prep scoop straight from college admissions officers.

http://www.lclark.edu/org/pnacac/04seafrcolleges.html

Hopefully your son or daughter had a chance to sign up for it at their school. If not, look for it again next year. About 55 students from Cascade HS attended this year. Way to go Cascade. We would like to see more Everett School District students attend this event next year - including World History students and Business students. Those of us working in the private sector, especially high tech, continually work with companies and people in Japan, Korea, Russia, India, Norway, and other countries. Understanding World Languages, World History, and World Cultures is good business.

Excerpt from the UW World Languages Day flier:

"Today's high school juniors and seniors have the opportunity and the challenge of living in a world whose boundaries are becoming smaller and smaller. Our country is engaged politically, economically and even militarily with many nations today. We do not know today where the future will take us in terms of our international engagements. It is more and more essential, as well as mind-opening, to learn other languages and to become familiar with the cultures of our world neighbors.

Attend every session you can on World Languages day and see your horizons expand."

Here are just a few of the many sessions that were offered this year:

• Arabic, Farsi, Hebrew: The Writing System
• Hispanic Dance
• Culture and Languages of India
• Russian Superstitions
• I Must Be in Poland Since Strangers Are Kissing My Hand
• Sound of the Trade Winds: Caribbean Folk Music
• Italian Mini Lesson
• Swahili Language Lesson
• Turkey, Turkmenistan, Iran – A View of Three Different Islamic Countries
• What You Didn't Know About Kung Fu
• Indonesian: Language of the Land of Seventeen Thousand Islands
• Meet the International Business Students
• Cultural Competence: You need it to survive in the real world

http://www.outreach.washington.edu/k12/wld/default.asp

About 20 Jackson HS students will attend this year's UW Math Day for High School Students event. The Everett School District offered to provide a bus and substitute teachers so the district's high school students (from all 4 high schools) would have an opportunity to attend this event. Our thanks again to the Everett School District administrators and the Jackson HS Math Department for making this happen.

http://www.outreach.washington.edu/k12/mathday.asp

Just another reminder that Everett School District students need to register for the May National AP Exams by March 18th, 2004. Contact your school counselor for details.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/education/2001870860_prepmoney04m.html

Excerpt from the Seattle Times, March 4, 2004

"Nearly 90 schools across Washington state will get federal funds to prepare low-income students for a rigorous high-school and college curriculum, state education officials said yesterday.

The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction released a list of 40 school districts to receive grants, including Yakima, Spokane, Mount Vernon, Aberdeen and Federal Way.

The money is from the U.S. Department of Education Advanced Placement Incentive Program, designed to raise expectations and standards for low-income students across the country."

The "new" link is on the JHS web site, that lists questions and answers to questions that parents and others are asking about the changes scheduled for the fall of 2004-2005 at Henry M. Jackson High School.  The Q&A link from the Districts web-site has been disabled.

jacksonhigh