Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Students Accept Cash For Test Scores
PRAIRIE GROVE — A popular assembly at Prairie Grove High School each year is one where Principal Ron Bond hands out cash prizes. The school awards students with money for passing their Advanced Placement tests from the previous school year. Students receive $100 for each passing grade.
For 2015, the high school awarded a total of $12,400 to 76 students for 124 passing grades. Many students take more than one AP course each year.
To help with promoting the importance of taking AP courses and studying to pass the tests, students
at the annual assembly include all students enrolled in pre-AP and AP courses in 8th-12th grades.
“You guys are here because you chose a more rigorous path academically,” Bond said to students, who filled up one side of the high school’s new basketball facility. Bond pointed out that many times students exceed because of the willingness to work hard, to stay committed and to finish the work.
“Keep going, push on,” he said. “I’m very thankful for our students. Prairie Grove High School is a beacon in the state for AP programs.”
A five-year summary on the school’s program shows the number of students in AP courses has increased from 57 in 2011 to 229 in 2015. The number of exams taken by students has increased from 73 exams in 2011 to 399 exams in 2015. For 2015, 33.2 percent of the students passed their AP tests.
In addition to giving out money, Bond also awarded certificates to 17 students who qualified as AP scholars. An AP scholar is a student who has scored a 3 or higher on three AP exams. Several students received certificates for passing additional AP exams.
Allen Williams, superintendent of schools, also thanked the students for their hard work and for the dedication of the school’s teachers.
“You have something pretty special here,” Williams said, reminding the students that at the end of the day, “It’s not what you score but what you learn.”
Prairie Grove High School joined the Arkansas Advanced Initiative for Math and Science in fall 2011 and as part of that, the school received a three-year grant to award cash incentives to students who passed their AP exams. When the grant expired, the Prairie Grove School Board decided to continue the cash incentives using district money.
Bond has encouraged students to take AP classes, pointing out statistics show students who participate in AP courses are better prepared for college.