Pelham School District Named to AP Honor Roll

An expansion of advanced placement course offerings at Pelham Memorial High School has earned the district a place on the 3rd annual AP District Honor Roll. 

“We have made a concerted effort at PMHS to give more students opportunities to enroll in both AP and other college level courses,” said Principal Jeannine Clark. “Research shows that students who complete at least one college level course while still in high school fare better in college. We also recognize that advanced placement courses can give a student a competitive edge in the college admission process.”

Only 539 districts in the United States and Canada qualified for the mention from the College Board in New York. Data documenting 3 years of student performance in Advanced Placement courses was reviewed and showed a growing number of Pelham students taking AP courses as well as high achievement.

Achieving both of these goals, according to the College Board, “indicates that the district is successfully identifying motivated, academically prepared students who are likely to benefit most from rigorous AP course work.” 

The percentage of Pelham Memorial High School students taking AP courses has increased from 40 to 55 percent since 2010 and the percentage attaining a 3 or higher increased from 88.5 to 91.7 percent. 

According to the Pelham school district, Pelham Memorial High School initiated several strategies in recent years to encourage more students to enroll in challenging courses. Including a highly successful, two-week summer seminar for students not meeting the criteria for honors level or advanced placement level courses but motivated to try.

There was also teacher training for middle and high-school faculty through the Social Studies department to incorporate "higher level thinking, writing and reading skills into all courses." Supervisor Maria Thompson said the idea is that continuous exposure to these skills and content throughout middle school and high school curriculum, instruction and assignments, students assimilate this knowledge over time.