Board hears proposal to pilot AP Environmental Science after survey shows student interest

Jim Sto, introduced as the science secondary lead, proposed adding AP Environmental Science as a new course offering and asked the board to pilot two sections next year.

Rationale and demand: Sto said a vertical team determined the course did not fit existing classes and that a pre‑audit through the AP site and a textbook review indicated the course is feasible. He reported surveying 505 juniors and seniors and receiving about 200 responses; roughly half of those respondents said they were interested in the AP Environmental Science offering and more than 100 said they would enroll if it were offered. Sto said those responses suggest enough demand to pilot two sections for seniors (about 50 students) and requested 50 textbooks for the initial pilot.

Course design and staffing: Sto described AP Environmental Science as lab‑based though lighter on labs than other sciences, reading/writing intensive and connected to policy and real‑world problems. He recommended sending two teachers for summer training and noted a significant staffing need if the course were expanded to sophomores or more sections.

Next steps: Sto proposed a pilot for seniors, with expansion to juniors or sophomores later if demand warrants. Trustees asked about success rates at other schools and staffing implications; Sto noted College Board success rates vary and said AP Environmental Science generally has lower pass rates than many other AP courses but still provides strong academic value.

No formal vote was taken; the proposal was presented for curricular consideration.