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Students ask Eastport‑South Manor to restore AP Physics C; superintendent cites low recent enrollment
Summary
Two students asked the board to reinstate AP Physics C for the coming year; administration said the class was discontinued after staff retirement and declining enrollment (nine students, then five) but that the board will consider the request.
Two students asked the Eastport‑South Manor Board of Education on Feb. 12 to restore Advanced Placement Physics C to the high‑school course catalog.
"The reason for our attendance here is to bring to your attention the issue of the lack of AP Physics C in our school's current course offerings, and to petition for its addition, or more so, restoration to the curriculum," said Mitchell Zhang, who identified himself as a Manorville resident and student. Zhang told the board AP Physics C provides calculus‑based mechanics and electricity topics that he and other students see as critical to a rigorous engineering pathway.
Kevin Ackerman, who also said he is a student, told the board the school has laboratory resources, textbooks and a teacher, and that 15 students are willing to enroll. "Many colleges don't accept non‑calculus‑based physics college credits," Ackerman said, adding that Physics C would give students a competitive edge in college admissions and for AP credit.
Superintendent Mr. Steinle acknowledged the students' presentation and described the background behind the course’s removal: he said enrollment had declined in recent years — "a couple of years ago, there were 9 students enrolled in the class. Typically, at ESM, when we take a look at classes, that would not be a class that ran... Then the following year... there were 5 students in the class" — and the course coincided with the retirement of the teacher who had been offering it. Steinle said the district is expanding STEM offerings elsewhere (maker spaces, Project Lead the Way) and that the administration will consider the students' request.
The board called the students' remarks "well spoken" and thanked them for their advocacy; no formal action was taken at the meeting. The students asked for consideration that would allow juniors to enroll in the coming year.
