On Course for College!

Advanced Placement Classes at Doctors Charter School

In keeping with its status as an A-rated college preparatory school, Doctors Charter School of Miami Shores offers an array of Advanced Placement courses that challenge high school students with college-level academics.  AP classes serve several purposes for the college-bound student.  Most college admissions counselors agree that Advanced Placement classes are perhaps equally important in the prospective student’s portfolio as SAT scores.  Colleges want to see that applicants are taking advantage of a majority of AP classes and are successful in their studies.   Most colleges and universities offer partial or full credit for scores of 4 or higher on the AP exam, which is administered in May each year.  Perhaps, the greatest benefit to AP classes is that they provide stimulating course material that stretches the student academically and gives him a head start towards college.

Doctors Charter School currently offers five AP courses:  European History, taught by Mark Schultz; American History, taught by Social Studies Chair Abeer Jadallah; American Government, taught by Justin Weise; Literature & Composition, taught by Language Arts Chair Terisa Tennison and Language & Composition, taught by Kristina Martinez.  Eleventh grade students are encouraged to take the AP classes so that they test before their senior years when the college application process begins in earnest.  However, some extremely bright 10th graders also take APs; and seniors whose schedules conflict in their junior years take the classes as well.  Class sizes are generally small, with 10-20 students in each one.  These are rigorous courses and the class syllabi ambitious – even for the most motivated college students.  They are designed to fully prepare students to excel on the Advanced Placement exam, so skills necessary to succeed on the tests are emphasized in class.  Notes AP European History teacher Mark Schultz, “I have high expectations for our students at DCS.  I personally feel that ¾ of them have the academic skills to get high scores on the test in May.”

AP Faculty Left>Right:  Kristina Martinez; Abeer Jadallah; Justin Weise and Teri Tennison. (Not pictured: Mark Schultz)

Both faculty and students are to be commended for posing and meeting this academic challenge.  Perhaps Teri Tennison says it best in her course overview for Advanced Placement English Literature:  “This course will challenge you academically.  You will read constantly, write frequently, and think relentlessly about who you are and how you are.  At times you will be confused; at times you will doubt; at times you will curse yourself/your parents/your counselor/your teacher for subjecting you to this torture.  Remember that growth is sometimes painful, and my goal is to cause you to grow.  Welcome to AP English Literature.” 

Bravo!

For more information on Doctors Charter School of Miami Shores, visit the school’s web site at: www.doctorscharterschool.org.

Article Submitted By:  Ginny Craven, Parent Volunteer