Wall High School's AP Success

By Ryan Sy
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   Wall High School achieved outstanding Advanced Placement test scores last school year that well exceed the national average. 
    Wall ranks high and above average compared to schools around the country. In the 2018-19 school year, 184 students took one or more AP tests and 173 of those students received at least one 3, which is a 94-percent passage rate as a 3 or better is considered proficient in each respective subject. 
    “I do believe that this has been the highest average since I've been here or at least since 2010 when I became the Director [of Guidance],” said Mrs. Kathryn Misa. “I used to get an overall global score, but this year they reported that in AP Biology our school had 95.6 percent of the students pass the exam and the global average was 64.7 percent.”
   Wall had a 100-percent passage rate in AP Chemistry, which was way above the national average of 54.6. These are great examples of how Wall is stacking up against other schools across the nation. 
    The social studies department saw some success as well. In AP U.S. History and AP Human Geography, Wall had a 100-percent passage rate in both classes while the national average was 56 percent and 49.1 percent, respectfully. The AP Human Geography national scores were the lowest this decade and because of that, College Board changed the curriculum and the exam for this school year.   
  “The biggest skill that stood out during the AP exams was definitely the time management and an understanding the wording of the AP questions,” said senior Sean White. “The preparations for AP exams are quite thorough and often you understand your weak and strong topics well before taking the exam as well as about what you will get on the exam at your current level without any additional studying.”
    Because of factors like its AP success, U.S. News and World Report currently ranks Wall 130th in the state among high schools.