Pittsburg honored nationally for its Advanced Placement program - KOAM TV 7

Pittsburg High School gets recognized for more students taking part in advanced placement (AP) classes.

The school is one of only five in the state of Kansas making the College Board AP Honor Roll - 539 schools across the U.S. and Canada were named.

Ptitsburg High School increased the number of students taking Advanced Placement classes from 65 to 85, and also the number taking AP exams from 17 tests to 102.  Students who pass the tests get college credit.

Advanced Placement teachers say the classes are structured like college classes with more discussion at school, and reading and writing preparation done at home by the students on his or her own time.

PHS Assistant Principal Rhonda White says the schools mission is to get students career or college ready, and AP classes can ensure that.

"Over the years more research has come to light that students who participate in higher level courses, more rigorous courses like the Advanced Placement courses, are more likely to be successful in college classes and are more likely to graduate in four or five years," says White.  "So having that exposure and that practice of study, skill and expectation, you'll have homework, intense reading and writing every day is what a college class would expect ."

Pittsburg High School offers seven AP classes meaning students can earn up to 21 college hours if exams are passed.