Advanced Placement college courses have long been a popular option for high-achieving high school students eager to earn college credit and bragging rights. But at BRHS, that option no longer exists, in part because students didn’t fare well on the AP exams. Other college options are still available though.
AP courses are known for their challenging content and rigorous exams. They offer students the chance to earn college credit, which can save time and money in the future. Despite their benefits, Bronx River has terminated these courses.
Jovani Almonte, a counselor at the school says, “Yes, a lot requested to take it but many had a difficult time passing it because it was challenging. Instead of opting out, they chose to take College Now, which is very similar but much easier.”
He added that the College Now program offers a different path, allowing students to earn high school elective credits without the pressure of AP exams. Mr. Almonte said that at the end of the semester, AP did not really help the students as many had difficulty remembering everything they had learned throughout the entire course.
Starr Giscombe, an assistant principal, added, “AP has a cumulative exam that requires students to remember everything from September to May. It’s way harder than Regents. It’s even more difficult than college. Many students didn’t do well, and they weren’t guaranteed college credit even if they took the course.”
“Kids weren’t scoring high on AP classes at Bronx River,” said principal Gregory Fucheck. “Some schools don’t accept 3s, and students have to score 3 or higher on the 5-point AP scale to earn credit. Before, every school in the building offered at least two AP courses,” he adds. Renaissance used to offer AP classes but not anymore and Lehman High School and Westchester Square Academy still do.
“Seniors from Bronx River are taking AP Biology there since Lehman is a much bigger campus,” Fucheck said. There is also a student from Bronx River taking an AP class at Westchester Square Academy.
While AP courses are no longer available at Bronx River, students have alternatives. “Mercy College covers pre-calculus for Bronx River, so students get to earn three college credits along with English 12 when they are seniors so that’s six credits in total,” Fucheck added.
The College Now program is another option where students can take college courses in high school. They can take the Lehman College classes online, on campus, or in some cases, the professor actually comes to the school to teach the class.
