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East St. Louis students recognized for Advanced Placement exam gains
Summary
The East St. Louis School District recognized students and staff for improved Advanced Placement exam performance, including 226 students who completed AP exams across 15 courses and several high individual scores.
District officials recognized student and staff achievements on Advanced Placement exams during the East St. Louis School District 189 Board of Education meeting Aug. 19, 2025. The district reported that 226 students in grades 9–12 completed AP exams across 15 different courses and saw an increase in students scoring a 3 or higher, the benchmark at which many colleges award credit.
Why it matters: Earning scores of 3 or higher can translate to college credit and signals college readiness for students who often face barriers to postsecondary opportunity.
At the meeting a district official said 27 students scored a 3 or higher on at least one AP exam. The official also highlighted several individual accomplishments: an 11th grader earned a 5 on the AP precalculus exam; a ninth grader scored a 4 on AP U.S. Government and Politics; one 11th grader scored a 3 on four separate AP exams; and two 11th graders each scored a 3 on two AP exams. The official noted the results were celebrated earlier in July by the local VFW Post 3480 and again at the district convocation in August.
Board members and staff invited several students and staff forward for photographs. Kay Rhodes Brown from the high school assisted in recognizing students who were present, including David Castillo (grade 9, U.S. Government and Politics), Kennedy Crawford (grade 11, Biology), Krishan Hyde (grade 11, Precalculus), Jatyra Taylor (grade 11, English Language and Composition) and Caleb Walker (grade 9, U.S. Government). The official read additional student names who were not present.
The recognitions also included three school employees earlier acknowledged by VFW Post 3480 for service to students: Dr. Kareem Mateem of the high school, Deshunda Curtis of Mason Clark Middle School and Cindy Colvin of Lincoln Middle School. The official described the awards as recognition of staff dedication and student support but did not provide additional details about award criteria or any accompanying funding.
The board did not take formal action on the recognitions; the presentation was part of the superintendent's report.
