Wilkes County Schools reports gains in AP participation; 221 qualifying scores in 2024–25

AIG Coordinator Angie Lamb told the Wilkes County Board of Education on Jan. 5 that students earned 221 qualifying Advanced Placement (AP) exam scores of 3, 4 or 5 in 2024–25, translating to an estimated 663 potential college credits and roughly $193,900 in potential tuition and fee savings.

Lamb said the district improved participation and performance after a 2023–24 AP passing rate of about 40 percent and several targeted strategies. District efforts outlined by Lamb included planned, intentional strategies to strengthen AP participation, walkthroughs conducted with the NCAP Partnership to identify classroom strengths and weaknesses, customized professional development, a Pre‑AP pilot training for 28 middle and high school teachers, and use of AIG (gifted) funds to buy materials and fund substitute time for teacher planning and collaboration.

The presentation said Wilkes Early College High School will begin adding AP offerings (two courses next year, with potential for more by 2027–28) and that North Wilkes High School and Wilkes Central High School will add additional AP courses. Lamb described the district’s next steps as continuing walkthroughs, sustaining the NCAP Partnership work, expanding AP course offerings and monitoring use of resources in AP classrooms.

The district estimated the 221 qualifying scores represent 663 college credits at an assumed cost of $292.46 per credit; the presentation calculated that figure into the estimated $193,900 savings for students and families. Lamb also cited the district’s selection to present at the AP Fall Leadership Conference and participation in a Pre‑AP resources pilot as supporting continued gains.

The board discussed the presentation and received the curriculum report as a discussion item; no formal vote was required on the AP data presentation.