Madison Reporter

Three high schools within the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) have been recognized by the Wisconsin Advanced Placement Advisory Council with AP Pacesetter Awards for the 2023–2024 academic year. East High School earned a Level 3 designation, while Vel Phillips Memorial and West High Schools achieved Level 2.

The awards are based on student participation and performance in Advanced Placement (AP) exams. For a school to receive a Level 1 designation, at least 30% of students must take an AP exam, with 70% or more scoring three or above. Level 2 requires at least 20% participation and a pass rate of at least 65%. Level 3 involves at least 10% participation and a pass rate of at least 60%.

Cynthia Green, MMSD’s assistant superintendent of teaching and learning, highlighted the significance of AP courses: “AP courses are designed to be rigorous and challenging, and they hold benefits that extend beyond subject mastery. Students who successfully pass AP classes have the opportunity to graduate with college credit, which can translate to real tuition savings down the line.”

This is the second consecutive year that Vel Phillips Memorial and West have received Level 2 recognition. Across Wisconsin, a total of 151 schools attained Levels 1, 2, or 3 Pacesetter status.

Last year saw record AP participation within MMSD; in May alone, over 1,845 students took approximately 3,803 AP exams. The district's pass rate was reported at 76%, with an average score of 3.4 out of five.

Mary Jankovich, MMSD’s executive director of secondary programs and pathways, emphasized the importance of these opportunities: “We prioritize providing our students with well-rounded opportunities that prepare them for college, career and community. Our AP offerings do that by giving students a head start on their post-graduation journey.”

These educational priorities align with other key areas such as early learning and multilingual education addressed in MMSD's operations referendum questions scheduled for November.

To register to vote in upcoming elections: https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/Register-To-Vote