Barrington has been named one of only 11 school districts in the state to make a national honor roll for its advanced placement offerings, according to a release from the Illinois State Board of Education.
Barrington School District 220 , which includes Barrington High School, was named to the list by the College Board. The nonprofit organization “connects students to college success,” according to its website.
The Dec. 12 ISBE release states that school districts on the Advanced Placement Honor Roll have “significantly increased access to AP among historically underrepresented student groups, while maintaining or improving the percentage of students who earned scores of 3 or higher on AP exams.”
Barrington SD220 has made the list five times, officials said.
“It’s a pretty significant honor for us, and Barrington High School in particular, to be recognized,” Superintendent Brian Harris said during the Dec. 17 Board of Education meeting. “Hopefully we’ll continue to be on that list over the next couple years as well.”
The College Board applies certain honor roll criteria using three years’ worth of AP data in order to determine which schools earn a spot, the release states. Based on that data, Barrington SD220 has both increased the number of students taking AP courses since 2017 and maintained the percentage of those students scoring a 3 or higher on the AP exams.
“That’s pretty significant when you expand the amount of students taking the exams and classes, as well as continuing to have the high achievement,” Harris said.
Taking AP classes allow high school students to earn college credit while still in high school if they score a 3 or higher on the AP exam at the end of the year. The AP classes teach material found on those exams, officials said.
Not everyone who enrolls in an AP course takes the AP exam, though.
According to the school district, 1,089 Barrington High School juniors and seniors, about 73% of all juniors and seniors at the school, enrolled in at least one AP class during the 2018-2019 school year. Many took more than one.
Out of those who took AP classes, 751 students chose to take the respective AP exams, and 697 students scored a 3 or higher on those exams.
Barrington High School Principal Steve McWilliams said in a news release that the honor roll distinction is also a reflection on the quality of education district staff and community members aim to provide the students.
“Our focus is to prepare all students to successfully transition from Barrington 220 to their next phase of life, whether that next step is college or a career path,” he said. “Successful completion of an AP course is one of many indicators of college and career readiness.”
Harris said he anticipates the district will continue to see its students excel in AP courses and exams, even if the district doesn’t make the honor roll list year after year.
“It’s hard to maintain over time, but we’re certainly going to continue to provide those supports for our kids to be successful in those classes as well,” he said.