How to Make K-12 Schools 20% more effective

Over the past three years, Corbett has had a number of students enter college with sophomore standing. Many others have earned at least a portion of their freshman credits prior to graduating from high school. (About 60% of the Class of 2009, in fact). This isn't just about saving parents tens of thousands of dollars (which is has, by the way) but is also about encouraging students to make the most of their opportunities. I think this is a great life lesson.

Last year 20% of Corbett's 10th graders passed the Advanced Placement World History exam. If they take their scores to Oregon State University, they will receive six credit hours for History 104 and 105. A passing score on either AP English exam is worth three more credits (and they get two tries). A score of four on an AP Government exam is worth four more credits. A three in Environmental Science? Four more credits. A four in Biology? Twelve more credits. A three in U.S History is worth eight credits. A three in Spanish? Twelve more. A three in Calculus (ab)? Four credits. A four in BC? That's worth twelve. A three in Psych? Four credits.

Last year 13% of Corbett's seniors had passed AP Calculus (bc) as well as AP Stats. Those exams were worth between eight and sixteen credits (up to a third of a year), depending on whether students scored threes or fours. In no case does earning credit require a score of five, but several exams require fours.

Most private schools do want fours, by the way, and Harvard wants fives. The rubric that I have been describing is the law for Oregon Higher Ed members.

A person wouldn't have to be all that prolific, really, to benefit tremendously from this program. A Corbett graduate could score fours on the right four exams and enter OSU with sophomore standing. Just two as a junior and two as a senior would do it. We've had plenty of students earn fours on more than four exams. It can be done.

In a time when everyone seems to want to talk about efficiencies and how we spend education dollars, it's clear to me that we could increase our output by anywhere from 8% (if you are only talking about time) to 20% (if you include the cost of a freshman year in a public college or university) by simply supporting our students' efforts to do well on their AP exams.

Exams are coming up again during the first two weeks of May. Encourage someone you know to do well.

There is no reason to limit ourselves to being a K-12 school. We can just as easily be K-13.