Several Middle Georgia schools have been named honor schools by the state for their students’ achievements in Advanced Placement coursework.
Howard, Rutland and Westside high schools in Bibb County; Houston County, Northside, Perry and Warner Robins high schools in Houston County; and Mary Persons High School in Monroe County have been named AP STEM schools. That distinction is for schools with students testing in at least two AP math courses and two AP science courses.
Four of those schools -- Houston County, Warner Robins, Perry and Mary Persons high schools -- also were named AP STEM Achievement schools, which means they met the AP STEM requirements while at least 40 percent of the AP math and AP science exams earned scores of 3 or higher. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math.
AP classes and exams are administered by the College Board, which also administers the SAT. The courses offer rigorous, college-level learning options to students in high school. Students who receive a 3, 4 or 5 on AP exams may receive college credit.
Georgia ranks 13th in AP course scores
Georgia ranks 13th in the nation in the percentage of high school seniors scoring a 3 or higher on Advanced Placement exams, according to The College Board’s AP Report for the Nation released Wednesday.
Nearly 20 percent of Georgia’s public high school class of 2011 scored a 3 or higher on at least one AP exam during high school, compared to just more than 18 percent for the nation.
“More Georgia students than ever before are taking AP courses and passing the exam,” state Superintendent John Barge said in a new release. “Success on AP exams means that students are prepared for college and careers, which is our ultimate goal.”
Perry High FFA floriculture team takes top honors
Perry High School’s Future Farmers of America floriculture team won first place in the state FFA Floriculture Career Development Event senior competition.
The team, consisting of Mitchell Freeman, Tyler Claxton, Samantha Strickland and Jake Parker, will be recognized at the Georgia State FFA Convention in April, and will receive money to help defray expenses to compete at the national level, according to a news release from the Houston County school system. The national convention will be held in Indianapolis in October.
The state competition consisted of students testing their knowledge and skills in the production and retailing of flowers, plants and foliage.
Spelling bee winners recognized
Winners of the Bibb County spelling bee were recognized at Thursday’s board meeting.
Billy Chung, a Vineville Academy of the Arts fifth-grader, won first place by spelling the word “virtuoso.” Sixth-grader Junus Searcy of Howard Middle School and Edna Rutland of Williams Elementary received second and third place, respectively.
Nearly 30 students in fourth grade through eighth grade competed in 17 rounds at the Jan. 28 event.
The top two winners will participate in the District 6 competition Feb. 25 at Fort Valley State University’s C.W. Pettigrew Center.
Houston County High astronomy teacher named solar system ambassador
Houston County High School astronomy teacher Joe Molyson has been named a solar system ambassador by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
In this role, Molyson will be a volunteer spokesman for NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory on the space program. He has also volunteered to present professional learning to district science teachers and conduct a space science night activity at Robins Elementary School, according to a Houston County Schools release.
The designation can be renewed annually. This is Molyson’s first year.
-- Compiled by Telegraph writer Caryn Grant
