Summer homework. Those two dreaded words transform an imagined nightmare to reality as students sign up for Advanced Placement (AP) English classes. However, once they make strides in their academic skills, the many hours of summer work often pay dividends.

 

Usually juniors and seniors take the AP tests after enrolling in upper division classes. Fifty-two FCHS students took the tests in 2008 and passed at a rate of 71.2%.

 

Vietnamese student Hoang Vo, '10, is taking AP Biology, Calculus and English classes. Vo says she didn't know about the advantages of taking AP classes last year, but is enjoying a challenging schedule.

 

"I want to work hard this year," Vo said. "I am taking AP English because I want to improve my language skills. My grammar isn't very good, and in that class we have to write a lot of essays. I am also taking AP Biology because I love science. I only know the vocabulary in my language, Vietnamese, so if I didn't take AP Biology, it would be very hard for me when I go to college."

 

Despite a difficult schedule, Vo also works in her uncle's nail salon, E Nails, and still makes time for studying.

 

"I don't have a lot of time to study at work, but if there are no customers in the shop I study then," Vo said. "And after I am done at work, I study more."

 

FC currently offers five AP classes: Biology, U.S. History and Calculus, as well as English Literature and Composition and English Language and Composition offered on alternating years.

 

The California state average for passing the AP tests in 2008 was 56.7%, while the pass rate for Clovis Unified was 62.9% and for all of Fresno County was 47.7%.

AP English teacher Molly Sargent says AP classes can benefit many students, but they are not right for everyone.

 

"While it is desirable to encourage students to do the best they can academically," Sargent said, "it is also desirable to encourage students to develop in other areas, including the arts, woodworking, athletics and certainly in their spiritual lives.

 

"Many students lack the ambition, determination, time, desire and academic ability to pursue a strictly academic program. Yet many students want as challenging an academic curriculum as possible. I believe it's beneficial for an educational institution to provide a program that is flexible enough to meet the needs of as many students as is feasibly possible, which is what FCS strives for."

 

AP classes were offered at FC as early as 1986, but the staff aims to add several more rigorous courses over the next three to five years.

 

According to Sargent, students may have the option of taking chemistry, Physics B, U.S. government and Spanish Language or Literature on the AP level in the next several years. Last year FC students performed well on the AP tests, she said.

 

"I am very happy about our high pass rate," Sargent said. "I know enough about AP scores to know that ours are good. There is an environment of achievement here that doesn't exist at other schools. Kids get individual attention here, and the public schools are realizing they must do that as well for their students to pass the test."

 

According to www.thefresnobee.com and www.collegeboard.com, the pass rate in Clovis Unified was 66%.

 

The California average was 60%, which just exceeded the national average of 59%.

 

For more information, e-mail Sargent at msargent@fresnochristian.com or read the May 8, 2008, Feather Online article, AP tests determine post high school credit.