Waukesha West students petition against discontinuation of AP French 5 program

The Waukesha School District Board of Education meeting on March 13, 2025, featured a significant public comment regarding the potential discontinuation of the AP French 5 program at Waukesha West High School. A student, Kara, passionately advocated for the continuation of the program, emphasizing its importance for her education and future opportunities.

Kara, currently enrolled in French 4, expressed concern that the discontinuation would hinder her and her peers' ability to complete a rigorous curriculum designed to prepare them for the AP exam. She highlighted that the current structure allows students to learn parts of the AP syllabus without receiving AP credit, which she argued undermines their educational experience and GPA.

The student outlined several alternatives proposed by the district, including quitting French, attending classes at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, or continuing with an incomplete curriculum. She voiced her discomfort with the idea of commuting to Milwaukee alone and the challenges of balancing her schedule with additional travel time.

Kara also pointed out that other schools in the district have ceased offering AP French 5, which has led students to rely on Waukesha West for their advanced language education. She argued that removing the program would diminish the district's academic offerings and negatively impact students' college applications, particularly for competitive institutions like UW Madison.

In her closing remarks, Kara requested that the board allow current French students to complete the full curriculum, underscoring the personal and academic growth opportunities that the program provides. The meeting continued with other public comments, but the board did not engage in a question-and-answer session during this segment.

The discussion around the AP French 5 program reflects broader concerns about educational offerings and student preparedness in the Waukesha School District, highlighting the importance of advanced placement courses in fostering academic excellence.