Comments on: AP Exam Pass Rates at Tri-Valley High Schools

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

UC Berkeley’s average weighted GPA is 4.35. Do you think Stanford would be worse than this?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_California,_Berkeley

“The average unweighted GPA of admitted freshmen in 2008 was 3.87 (4.35 weighted), and their SAT interquartile ranges were 620-730 (Reading), 650-770 (Math), and 620-730 (Writing). “

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Thanks, Sarah. You basically just corroborated what John Z. said about how DHS is stuffing kids in AP classes, whether they are truly ready for the faster pacing or not. Good job.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

What about GPAs? Getting 5′s in AP classes will help your GPAs, right? On the other hand, wouldn’t AP classes help you get good scores in SATs?

Furthermore, AP pass rate has been widely used as a criteria to compare high schools, be it US News and World Report or Newsweek. It turns out to be a very objective and reliable indicator.

By: Around Dublin Team

Around Dublin Team — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Hi Anonymous,

Did you follow the link we provided in the article?

http://studentaffairs.stanford.edu/sites/default/files/registrar/files/AP_Chart_2009-10.pdf

By: Sarah

Sarah — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Hi! I’m a student at Dublin High who just took her 7th AP test. First of all, I’m here to second the comment above me. Stanford doesn’t accept any A.P. credit. They do take English scores and use it as a placement exam, but that’s it. Actually, most Ivy Leagues do not. So the person that wrote this article needs to verify facts. Maybe he would know if he actually had a kid who is going through DHS right now.

I am a student at DHS and it is great and I have been fully prepared for every exam I have taken. When I spent a semester abroad, I can confidently say I was the most prepared student in AP Chemistry than the 7 other kids in my class. Passing AP exams for a DHS student definitely comes down to the student, as it should. The teachers are there whenever you need them and cover the material, but it’s up to that student to get help. The harder you work, the better your score. The reason that our scores might not be as high as other schools is because at DHS, if you are enrolled in an AP class, you have to take the test or your grade drops 10%. That way students make a serious commitment when signing up for the class. At other schools only the people that think they will pass will take the test and I’ve heard of people who are not doing too well in the subject being pressured not to take the test. Maybe if the author of this article actually knew anything about DHS, he wouldn’t have been so mistaken. This is seriously an insult to teachers who work very hard and students like me who work very hard and get into Ivy League schools only to be called “inadequate.”