Christopher Amezcua, a senior at Ross S. Sterling High School, shows the certificate he received in recognition of his scores on the AP Biology Exam and two Project Lead The Way End of Course assessments. He is in the Health Science Academy at Sterling.
Partnership Creates Opportunities for Students
By: Susan Passmore
The College Board and Project Lead the Way (PLTW) have partnered on a program to encourage student participation in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) courses and to build interest in STEM degrees and careers. This program is designed to help prepare all students for the global workforce.
Combining the success of the College Board’s Advanced Placement Program (AP) and Project Lead The Way’s applied learning programs, the program has three elements, including college and career pathways that connect AP and PLTW courses, recognition for students who participate in the pathways along with recognition for schools and a portfolio of career-focused opportunities for students.
The first element of the program involves college and career pathways in engineering, biomedical science and computer science, incorporating both AP and PLTW courses. Each pathway must include PLTW courses to introduce students to the field, AP courses and exams that provide an opportunity for advanced placement and/or college credit and PLTW specialization courses that focus on knowledge and skills needed for rewarding careers. There is a menu of courses that schools can combine to create pathways.
The second element involves students earning recognition by satisfactorily completing three courses in the pathway – one AP course; one PLTW course and a third course, either AP or PLTW and earn a qualifying score of 3 or higher on the AP Exams(s) and a score of Proficient or higher on the PLTW End of Course assessments. Schools whose students earn recognition also are recognized.
Christopher Amezcua, a senior at Ross S. Sterling High School in the Health Science Academy, recently received this recognition. He received a score of 3 or above on the AP Biology Exam and scored Proficient or above in two PLTW classes. Amezcua took Principals of Biomedical Sciences and Human Body Systems as a sophomore and Medical Interventions as a junior and scored Proficient or above. He is now enrolled in Biomedical Innovations.
“This recognition shows colleges I’m ready for a career related to biomedical science,” Amezcua said. “I plan to major in biology on the pre-med track and pursue a career in pathology. I like studying diseases to be able to help people.”
Amezcua obviously takes his classes seriously, but he has had a well-rounded high school experience. He plays the baritone in the RSS Marching Band, and is a member of the Key Club, National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society and Health Occupations Student Association. He plans to attend Baylor University in the fall.
“We’re excited to have this new partnership between the College Board and Project Lead The Way, because it provides an opportunity for our students to demonstrate their academic achievement in courses directing them toward their post secondary major,” said Renea Dillon, director of Career and Technical Education.