Schools

Armstrong Offers New College-Level Course

High school is adding an Advanced Placement art history class to its list of challenging college-level courses this year.

The name of the game at is college readiness. While it has always been a focus for the high school, this year a new college-level course will be added to the curriculum.

Rigorous academic courses known as Advanced Placement (AP) classes are one of the many ways students can position themselves on the college track. Students that take these courses and do well have the ability to earn college credit. The new class being offered at the high school this year is AP Art History.

“This course will only add to the variety of AP classes we have here,” Principal David Dahl said. “These classes are a great way for students to learn time management and new skills that will help them be successful in college.”

This additional class brings the total of AP courses offered at Armstrong High School to 18.

Advanced Placement courses are offered in 250 high schools across the state, according to the Minnesota Office of Higher Education. At Armstrong, and across Minnesota, the number of students taking AP courses is on the rise.

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In 2009, about 49,500 AP exams were given statewide. One year later that number jumped to about 53,200 exams, an increase of about 8 percent. 

“Over the past few years we are seeing more and more students take AP courses,” Dahl said. “At this point, one third of our students are enrolled in at least one AP class.”

Teacher Kate Fuller says the new course will challenge students in a different subject.

“While Armstrong does offer quite a few AP courses, it’s important to offer a varitey of subjects to make sure we appeal to all students,” Fuller said.

Fuller, who has 11 years of teaching experience at Armstrong, said the class will encourage students to function at the college level.

“The goal of the course is for students to be able to analyze art for its effectiveness and understand its connection to history and culture,” she said. “I know the class will challenge and occasionally frustrate students, but in the end I think they will be proud of what they learn and of being successful in a challenging class.”

The most popular AP classes in Minnesota are: U.S. History, English literature and composition, calculus and statistics. AP Art History is also offered at other high schools across the state.


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