Governor Visits Prairie Grove District

SCORES GET GOVERNOR’S ATTENTION

FARMINGTON — Gov. Mike Beebe came to Prairie Grove High School last week for only one reason: to congratulate the school, faculty, students and community for the school’s Advanced Placement program.

In spring 2011, Prairie Grove had 13 passing scores of a 3 or better on AP exams. For spring 2013, this jumped to 92 passing grades.

“That’s a pretty amazing increase,” Beebe said in a school assembly to recognize the students for their accomplishments. “That’s why they are bragging on Prairie Grove. That’s why I’m here.”

The assembly was held not only to recognize the students but to hand out money.

Prairie Grove is one of 38 schools in the state involved in the Arkansas Advanced Initiative for Math and Science and Arkansas is only one of six states to participate in the program funded through the National Math and Science Initiative and a grant from Exxon Mobil. As part of that program, students receive $100 each time they score a 3 or better on their math, science and English AP exams.

Prairie Grove takes that incentive one step further and pays $100 to students for passing grades on other AP exams, including U.S. History, world history and politics and government.

Tommie Sue Anthony, president of AAIMS, handed out $9,200 to 59 Prairie Grove students for their AP scores. (Not all students were present.) The school gave out another $ 1,700 for non-AAIMS courses. Many students take more than one AP course.

The state average for passing scores on AP exams in 2013 was 33.5 percent. Prairie Grove surpassed the state average, with a 40.5 percent passing rate on its exams.

Beebe congratulated the students for the school’s passing rate, noting, “You blew away the state average.”

Beebe said the school’s AP program is not an end but a beginning.

“The preparation you’ve had will enable you going forward to finish the job,” Beebe said.

In addition to the $100 incentives, the school also recognized individual students who have done well on their AP courses. Will Pohlman, who graduated in May, is the school’s first National AP Scholar and scored a 4 or higher on eight AP exams.

One advantage to passing AP exams is the opportunity to earn college credit. Pohlman is a freshman at the University of Arkansas and said he entered college with 30 credit hours from his AP classes. He said he enrolled in AP classes at Prairie Grove High to prepare for college and to earn college credit.

Ron Bond, high school principal, said Prairie Grove joined the math and science initiative in 2010, as it was looking for ways to change the academic culture of the school. Bond said some students were leaving the school district in eighth grade because they did not think they could get a good education in Prairie Grove. Bond said he personally took offense at such comments.

“I’m confident in saying that our entrance into AAIMS has provided a focus for academic change,” Bond said at a luncheon held prior to the assembly for community leaders and stakeholders.

Anthony told community leaders that Prairie Grove students are pursuing higher level classes. For the current school year, 37 percent of the student body is enrolled in an AP course. The school gave 254 exams last year and expects to give 352 exams in spring 2014. Of the senior class, 40 percent are taking AP calculus and 57 percent are enrolled in AP English literature.

Prairie Grove is a model for the state, Anthony said, in proving that an AP program can be successful in smaller, rural schools.

She attributed Prairie Grove’s success to the AAIMS program itself, a community that supports and values education, administrators who wanted to change the culture of the school, “incredible” teachers and students “who want to work hard, who are more concerned about learning and doing well, than just making all A’s.”

Dale Fleury, a regional director out of Dallas with the National Math and Science Initiative, spoke at the luncheon and at the assembly. Fleury said AP courses prepare students for college and the workforce but more importantly, the courses are preparing students to compete in a global economy.

“Our kids are going to be in a situation where it is very competitive and they are competing for jobs worldwide,” Fleury said. “We want to make sure they have the tools to be a part of this economy.”

Fleury commended Prairie Grove for changing the school climate and culture almost overnight and for showing that an AP program will be successful with any type of student population.

PHOTOS BY LYNN KUTTER ENTERPRISE-LEADER Cameras were flashing all around as Prairie Grove High students gathered to have a group photo taken with Gov. Mike Beebe. These students received cash incentives for their Advanced Placement scores on the 2013 spring tests. Beebe praised the students,...

Prairie Grove High Principal Ron Bond recognizes Will Pohlman, a 2013 graduate of Prairie Grove High, as the high school’s first National AP (Advanced Placement) Scholar. To receive the award, a student has to score an average 4.0 on all AP exams and...