03 Sep 2012 Conway students to be awarded for AP scores
by Sonja J. Keith
A special assembly will take place today to recognize Conway High School students for their performance on recent Advanced Placement exams.
Nearly 250 Conway High School students and recent graduates will receive financial incentives for their academic success.
CHS is one of 31 schools in the state participating in the Arkansas Advance Initiative for Math and Science (AAIMS) Program. Funding is provided through a national grant from Exxon.
“We are very pleased with the results that come from focused attention on our student’s performance in Advanced Placement coursework and test,” said Dr. Greg Murry, superintendent for the Conway School District. “Our teachers have done outstanding work in getting these students prepared for the AP exam. The result of this hard work by students and teachers is that we are once again at the top of the districts in the AAIMS initiative.”
According to Charlotte Green, supervisor of gifted programs for the Conway district, 161 current juniors and seniors and 86 seniors who graduated last year have earned cash incentives for their grades on AP exams.
“Conway students took 927 exams and out of that 564 exams had a passing score of 3, 4, or 5. This gives us a 61 percent pass rate; which is nationally competitive,” Green said.
Students are eligible to receive $100 for each outstanding score in English, math and science exams, and some students took multiple tests. According to Green, several students will receive up to $300.
One student, Courtney Parker, had qualifying scores on nine tests. She will receive $300 for her scores on the math, science and English exams.
The cash incentives will be presented during an assembly at the high school. Local business, civic and education leaders have been invited to attend. Incentives for those who have graduated will be mailed.
Charles Morgan, founder of Acxiom and PrivacyStar, will be the featured speaker at the assembly. He will address students on being competitive in a global world and the importance of academic achievement and innovative thinking.
“Conway is our largest school and they had the largest number of scores of 3 or better,” said Tommie Sue Anthony, president of AAIMS. “Conway is in the top 25 schools in the state for scores.”
