Educators Guide High Schoolers to AP, IB Success in Summer Programs
These days, high schoolers have a plethora of ways to learn over the summer. There are traditional summer camps, study abroad options and prep classes for college admissions exams.
But some high schoolers have another option: Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate summer boot camps.
Prince George's County Public Schools in Maryland, for example, is hosting a three-day camp this week for IB high school students in the district at Frederick Douglass High School in Upper Marlboro.
"There are so many time constraints during the school day and school year," says Kim Watson, an IB coordinator at the school. It's a huge benefit to be able to bring high schoolers of all different grades together for interactive activities that allow them and their teachers to think critically and explore things a little more in depth, she says.
High school students in AP and IB classes complete challenging, college-level work. Students aiming to earn the diplomas that correspond with these classes have to complete specific courses and fulfill other requirements.
[Learn more about AP and IB high school diploma programs.]
Throughout the program at Frederick Douglass High School this week, students will be exposed to concepts and skills they will need to be successful in the IB diploma program, such as research, Watson says, while taking part in activities in a nontraditional classroom setting that encourage students to advocate for a better world.
The program, now in its second year, has also been a great way for ninth-graders to make the transition to high school, she says.
Ensuring all high schoolers have the skills and confidence needed to tackle advanced course work is what prompted officials in Pittsburgh to develop AP and IB summer programs in recent years, says Jaclyn Castma, project manager of AP and IB programs for Pittsburgh Public Schools.
There have been some students who come to the summer program and they actually don't take the course. "They feel, 'I might not be ready for AP this year and maybe I'll do it next year,'" she says. It doesn't happen often, but it has happened, she says.
Students sign up for two- or three-week sessions that are tied to particular subjects, like AP Physics or an IB history course. While the activities and curriculums vary, the idea is to set students up for success during the upcoming school year.
And getting students to come to school in the summer doesn't seem to be a problem for districts.
"I believe it is better to spend my days doing something productive rather than just sitting at home," Diamond Johnson, then 17, told the Chicago Tribune of her choice to attend an AP summer boot camp in June. "Although I am a hard-working student, I also thought it would be a good choice to take an extra step outside of the classroom to sharpen my skills."
Both Watson and Castma say enrollment for their free, voluntary summer programs has been strong. In Pittsburgh, some programs were held at Carnegie Mellon University, an intentional decision, Castma says.
Exposing students to a college classroom helps students forge the connection between taking advanced courses in high school and going to a four-year college, she says. And it shows the students they will be ready for college when they graduate because of the hard work they are putting in now.
[Find out how earning college credit in high school can slash undergrad costs.]
Watson, the Maryland educator, thinks these kinds of programs are a great opportunity for students and teachers, as the latter can collaborate on an educational experience that is not necessarily driven by standardized testing or a prescribed curriculum.
"It gives the students an opportunity to experience school in a different way and build friendships, come together as a team and really find their voice," she says. "It's a short but powerful time period. It's worth it."
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Alexandra Pannoni is an education staff writer at U.S. News. You can follow her on Twitter or email her at apannoni@usnews.com.
