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DISRICT 200 PHOTO

By Kevin Lyons DISTRICT 200

The Illinois State Board of Education this month announced a large increase in the number of high school students taking Advanced Placement exams, but that positive trend in Woodstock School District 200 dates back a few more years.

Across the state, Illinois high school students took 14,500 more AP exams in 2020 than in the previous year. However, District 200’s increase is best shown over a longer period of time with a spike of 42 percent more AP exams from 2016 through 2020, when more than 4,520 exams were administered.

The number of students taking AP exams at both high schools in District 200 also increased by 45 percent over that same time period, from 443 students to 643. District 200 high schools now offer 32 different AP courses in disciplines ranging from math and computer science to music, art, and world languages.

Starting with the 2014-15 school year, high school administrators at Woodstock and North high schools sought to create more educational opportunities for underrepresented minority and economically disadvantaged students, among others. They looked to identify additional students who hadn’t been taking AP classes but demonstrated the aptitude for the academic rigor.

“Our data showed there was a disproportionate number of minorities and students from lower-income brackets that were not enrolling in AP classes, and we wanted our AP program to be inclusive for all,” said Justin Smith, assistant superintendent for middle and high school education.

- District 200 Superintendent Mike Moan

AP classes have typically been populated by students who have been tracking in honors and advanced courses since middle school. Placement is based on a combination of assessment scores and grades. But District 200 educators knew there were other students who could benefit from and have success in AP courses.

Teachers are asked to identify students each year who likely could handle the challenge of AP courses, and those students were encouraged to enroll in one AP course. Priorities became helping students to take advantage of the state’s reduced fees for AP testing for low-income families and considering factors that might have impacted a student’s middle school tracking, such as English proficiency development or cultural factors such as students who didn’t come from families with college backgrounds.

“We were removing barriers for these students, whether financial or otherwise,” Smith said.

District 200 Superintendent Mike Moan said expanding the student population in AP classes was a matter of equity.

“We’ve worked hard to become one of a few districts nationally where our AP classes are as diverse as our student population,” he said. “It is imperative for us that all students in District 200 have the opportunity to open doors and excel at the highest level.”

Perhaps the best indicator, Smith said, is that significantly increasing the number of students taking AP courses and exams has not affected the percentage of students who are passing the AP exams, which remains around 70 percent district-wide.

“Many of these students who’ve been identified by their teachers are taking AP tests and earning potential credit for college,” Smith said. “We’re seeing that success.”

Moan said the benefits of AP courses were both tangible and intangible. Students are exposed to more rigorous coursework, which makes them confident about more academic challenges and better prepares them for college. They also get credit at most colleges for their AP coursework, assuming they pass the exams, which carries a financial benefit.

“The college credit that our students are earning is saving families in our community hundreds of thousands of dollars a year,” he said.

By Tricia Carzoli NEWS@THEWOODSTOCKINDEPENDENT.COM

Students at Marian Central Catholic High School will return after Thanksgiving, but they will learn remotely for two weeks after Christmas break.

Superintendent Mike Shukis said the Diocese of Rockford decision to delay the return to school in January was based on input from school administrators.

Shukis reported that, along with the region’s COVID-19 infections rising, Marian students’ parents also are affected at an increasing rate.

“We are seeing four or five parents affected every day,” he explained. “That affects our students as far as needing to quarantine. But the positive thing is that we are not seeing contact tracing happening within our school. Most of the contact tracing is happening from ride-sharing and extra-curricular activities. We have seen about three or four students who have been contact traced within the school, and about 30 who have been contact traced outside of school.”

He said the school was committed to in-school learning as much as possible.

That happened early this year after contact tracing forced the school to go fully remote after starting the academic year with five days of in-school instruction. After two weeks, Marian students returned to a hybrid model and have remained in school since.

That hybrid model is what students are scheduled to return to after Thanksgiving break as decided by the diocese.

Half of the student body attends in-person class every other day, while the other half attends remotely, but all class periods are taught both in-person and remotely every school day.

He said he was happy with how things had gone so far, but also indicated that it was “hard, because we know people who are sick.” He credited the office staff and teachers for their hard work, explaining that the staff is teaching remotely and in-person simultaneously and the office staff is monitoring the health and safety of the students and faculty.

Shukis confirmed that Marian would not be playing basketball this season. He did hope that, if IHSA changes the sport to spring, Marian would play.

Elizabeth Kita is a senior at Marian Central Catholic High School. She is the daughter of Patricia Meyers-Kita and James Kita, Cary. “Elizabeth is a true go-getter. She is a mature, young woman who consistently achieves at high levels. She balances academics, the arts, and giving back to her Marian community with grace,” said one of her teachers. Elizabeth has ranked in the top 10 percent of her class every year of high school. She is a member of the National Honor Society, the Tri-M Music Honor Society, and the Thespian Honor Society. Elizabeth is involved with theater club, the pit orchestra, and the mentor program at Marian. She is also a leader of the Friends of Rachel club. Outside of school, she has been involved with the youth group at Saints Peter & Paul Church for a few years.

When asked who inspires her, Elizabeth said, “My older brother is someone who really inspires me. He has taught me a lot of important life lessons over the years, and he always pushes me to be a better person. His leadership skills and ambition motivate me to always do my best.” When asked what makes her feel successful, Elizabeth said, “I feel I am successful because I’ve had so many academic achievements while being involved in many extracurricular acitivties. I’ve managed to stay in the top percentile of my class while also giving my time and effort to other things that I love to do.”