School's achievement recognized

Harlem High School is one of more than 80 Georgia schools to be designated recently as an Advanced Placement Honor School.

//

The state Department of Education recognized Harlem as an AP Access and Support School, an honor that goes to schools where at least 30 percent of their AP test-takers are black or Hispanic students and 30 percent of all of their AP test-takers earn a score of 3 or higher.

"It shows that our entire student body is trying to move forward, and our minority students are keeping pace," said Alan Griffin, principal. "Their parents deserve some platitudes, too, for pushing and encouraging their kids in school."

He said minority students make up more than 30 percent of Harlem High's overall student population.

Griffin said this is the first time Harlem has been recognized as an AP school in his 15-year tenure at the school. The honor school designations were based on 2007-08 data.

"We have encouraged our students in the past several years to challenge themselves and sign up and take AP classes," he said.

Griffin said about 10 percent of Harlem's students take AP courses.

"It was an unexpected thing, and something that really made us feel good," said Griffin. "In today's world, just a basic core education isn't good enough."

AP classes and exams, which are administered by the College Board, offer rigorous college-level learning options to high-school students. Students who receive scores of 3, 4 or 5 on AP exams can receive college credit.