Updated Video:  Shades Valley Students Earn Cash For AP Classes

By Linda White
Reporter
Published: August 28, 2008

Shades Valley High School students have a new incentive to take Advanced Placement classes - cash.  It’s all part of a multi-million dollar AP grant initiative in Jefferson County Schools.

For every advanced placement international test Katie Wesler takes at the end of the school year - she’ll earn 100 dollars.

Shades Valley Junior Katie Wesler said, “It pushes you to really try to learn more and to be the best you can be.“

This Shades Valley Junior knows the money will be nice - but for her - the challenge is what drives her.  All of her classes are either AP or Pre AP.

Katie said, “The teachers here at Shades Valley High School really care about us.  They prepare us.  They want us to be the best that we can be.“

Katie’s not alone.  There are more AP classes thanks to a thirteen million dollar grant split between two Alabama school districts.  Jefferson county is one of them.  Last year, nearly 650 students took AP courses.  This year that number has tripled, to more than 1900.

Susan Ingram is Science chair at Shades Valley.

Science Chairperson Susan Ingram said, “It prepares them for college, no matter where they go and no matter what they’re studying because it brings them to a level of study, of responsibility and testing.“

That’s what Katie is counting on…

Katie said, “It’s very challenging.  It’s a lot of work but yet, I know, it will prepare me.“

Teachers can also earn one-hundred dollars for every student who passes the international test.

Jefferson County shares the grant with Montgomery Schools Systems.