(CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Release of 2014-15 Advanced Placement (AP) results shows that Bob Jones High School influenced Alabama’s lead as the number-one state in percentage increases for math, science and English.

Bob Jones students earned qualifying scores on an impressive 426 AP exams in 2015. Improvements for each state were monitored during seven years.

“We are thrilled to celebrate the successes of our students who have taken AP courses and passed their AP exams in math, science and English,” Bob Jones Principal Sylvia Lambert said. “We encourage all students to take at least one AP class, because we know that this exposure is important for college and career readiness.”

Gov. Robert Bentley and Dr. Tommy Bice, Alabama State Superintendent of Education, held a ceremony at the Alabama State Capitol on Sept. 10 to announce that Alabama continues to lead the nation in AP increases.

Bob Jones was lauded as a ‘national champion’ in AP growth and success. By successfully completing AP courses, students have more ‘open doors’ for college admission.

Locally on Oct. 21, Bob Jones will conduct a celebration in Zompa Auditorium to acknowledge hard work by students who enrolled in a total of 684 AP courses.

Educators attribute the implementation of the state education department’s A+ College Ready AP Program as a driving factor in the results. Bob Jones adopted the program in 2013, assistant principal Amy Thaxton said.

The A+ program aims to boost student enrollment and achievement, particularly for under-represented groups in rigorous AP courses and to build a pipeline of students better prepared for college and careers, according to the College Board as reported by the National Math and Science Initiative.

The AP Initiative works closely with the Alabama Math, Science, and Technology Initiative (AMSTI) and Alabama Reading Initiative (ARI) to assist all Alabama students in meeting Alabama College and Career Ready Standards.

The AP Initiative has received investments from National Math and Science Initiative, Alabama Power Foundation, Regions Inc., The Boeing Company and ExxonMobil, along with state funding and individual contributions.