GHS students exceed state average

Nearly 60 percent of Gaffney High students taking Advanced Placement (AP) classes passed exams for college credit in 2007.

Gaffney High had an average passing rate of 57.5 percent on the 11 AP exams offered this past school year. The state average was 57.1 percent.

The College Board's Advanced Placement program allows high school students to take college-level classes. Students enrolled in the courses are required to take an AP exam at the end of the school year.

AP exam scores are based on a 1-to-5 grading scale. Students scoring a 3 or higher can receive college credit.

Gaffney High students' performance was down from last year's record 62 percent passing rate.

School officials were pleased this year's 57.5 percent passing rate remained close to the national average of 60 percent.

"We set our goal every year to score right above the national average," Gaffney High assistant principal Eric Blanton said. "We've found if you challenge students to beat the previous year's score they will really work hard. We offer them some incentives like gift cards if they are able to meet those goals."

Gaffney High students saved their best performance for the two Advanced Placement calculus courses offered by the school. Gaffney High had a 100 percent passing rate on the Calculus BC Advanced Placement exam and an 88 percent passing rate in Calculus AB.

Gaffney and Blacksburg High students had a 75 percent passing rate in Advanced Placement psychology. The class was taught by Gaffney High teacher Elizabeth Ireton while using video conference technology that links the two high schools.

Gaffney High had an 87.5 passing rate in AP World History and a 76.5 percent passing rate in English Language and Composition. Fifty percent of students passed an AP statistics exam.

U.S. History was the only AP class in which Gaffney High students had a poor showing. Only 8 percent of GHS students passed the U.S. History AP exam.

School districts statewide are required to offer Advanced Placement courses. The courses offered at high schools depend on student interest.

Blacksburg High added AP Government this year and brought back AP calculus.

Course offerings could change as the popularity of dual credit courses increases among high school seniors, Blacksburg High guidance counselor Billy Transou said. Students can earn a maximum of four high school units and 12 hours of college credits through the dual credit program.

A total of 42 high school students have taken psychology 201 and 203 and English 101 and 102 for dual credit this year.

"We could see more juniors taking Advanced Placement classes in the future," Transou said. "We are seeing many of our top students enroll in dual credit classes because they can get double credit. It's a great deal for students and their parents. It could mean a slow death for the Advanced Placement program."