USING THE “RIGHT” DATA:
INCREASING PARTICIPATION AND BUILDING AN AP
PROGRAM
Mr. Greg Ahlquist
Dr. Brian Weller
If you don't know where you are going,
you'll end up someplace else.
Yogi Berra
Who are we?
• 9000 students, 11 buildings
• Suburban Rochester, Lake Ontario,
Irondequoit Bay
• 90% graduation rate
Art History
Biology *
Calculus AB *
Calculus BC *
Chemistry *
Chinese Language and Culture
Computer Science A*
English Language *
English Literature *
Environmental Science *
European History *
French Language and Culture *
German Language and Culture*
Government & Politics: Comp
Government & Politics: US *
Human Geography
Italian Language and Culture
Japanese Language and Culture
Latin: Vergil
Macroeconomics *
Microeconomics *
Music Theory *
Physics B *
Physics C Electricity & Magnetism*
Physics C Mechanics*
Psychology *
Spanish Language *
Spanish Literature
Statistics *
Studio Art – 2D Design*
Studio Art – 3D Design*
Studio Art – Drawing*
U.S. History *
World History*
Where did we begin?
• 2006: Webster’s shift to a
Professional Learning Community
(PLC)
• New Superintendent
• Learning by Doing
• Culture Shift
The Work
of a PLC
Clarify the
learning outcomes
Assess the
effectiveness of
strategies
Identify and gather
evidence/data of
student learning
Implement
those strategies
Analyze that
evidence/data
Identify the most
powerful teaching
strategies
Where did we begin?
• 2006: Webster’s shift to a
Professional Learning Community
(PLC)
• New Superintendent
• Learning by Doing
• Culture Shift
Where did we begin?
• 2009: Attendance at AP National
Conference
• Current State?
• Defining Beliefs
Where did we begin?
• 2009: Data collection and organization
• Physical Collection
• Data Entry
• Aligning beliefs with data presentation
Webster AP Students
2006-2012
1000
913
900
800
700
600
568
595
598
621
663
710
500
# of students
400
61%
Growth
Over
7 yrs
300
200
100
0
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2008-2009 Students Seated for an AP Exam vs.
Student Population Grades 10-12 for
Webster and comparable Monroe County schools
2000
Number of AP's Taken related to Districts Population
1800
1600
916
1400
1200
1172
1238
1116
1056
740
754
810
867
812
1000
800
600
933
400
608
553
586
Webster
Schroeder High
School
Webster
Thomas High
School
Brighton High
School
Penfield High
School
Pittsford
Mendon High
School
Pittsford
Sutherland High
School
West
Irondequoit
High School
TOTAL STUDENTS
1172
1116
916
1238
740
754
1056
TOTAL AP's Taken
553
586
933
608
810
867
812
200
0
Growth Mindset
• Every situation is an
opportunity to learn
and grow
• How can I improve?
• What can I do
better?
Fixed Mindset
• Every situation is
evaluated
• Will I succeed or fail?
• Will I look smart
or dumb?
Source: Dweck, C. (2006) Mindset: The new psychology of success. New
York , NY: Random House
Growth Mindset
• What is something
new to learn?
• I CAN!
(with time and
effort)
Fixed Mindset
• Will I feel like a
winner or loser?
• I CAN’T (so why try
and waste the
effort?)
Source: Dweck, C. (2006) Mindset: The new psychology of success. New
York , NY: Random House
Source: Edwards, B. (1999) The new drawing
on the right side of the brain, 2nd edition.
New York, NY: Tarcher/Putnam
Source: Edwards, B. (1999) The new drawing
on the right side of the brain, 2nd edition.
New York, NY: Tarcher/Putnam
Source: Edwards, B. (1999) The new drawing
on the right side of the brain, 2nd edition.
New York, NY: Tarcher/Putnam
Source: Edwards, B. (1999) The new drawing
on the right side of the brain, 2nd edition.
New York, NY: Tarcher/Putnam
Growth Mindset
Fixed Mindset
• Developing
yourself
• Validating
yourself
Source: Dweck, C. (2006) Mindset: The new psychology of success. New
York , NY: Random House
Growth Mindset
Fixed Mindset
• You are not
fulfilling your
potential
• Not smart
Source: Dweck, C. (2006) Mindset: The new psychology of success. New
York , NY: Random House
Growth Mindset
Fixed Mindset
• It is what makes
you smart or
talented
• Means you are
not smart or
talented
Source: Dweck, C. (2006) Mindset: The new psychology of success. New
York , NY: Random House
How did we get here?
• 2009-2010: AP Summit
– All AP teachers and Superintendent
• Putting a stake in the ground
– Clarity of message: ACCESS
– Disseminate data of current state (teacher,
course, district)
How did we get here?
• 2010-2011: Shifting the culture
–“Implementation dip”
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT??
A CASE STUDY IN AP US HISTORY
YEAR
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Enrollment
36
39
95
96
90 105 120
Number
of sections
2
2
4
4
4
4
5
Number
Of
Exams
26
35
49
65
57
78
101
Pass Rate
(%)
88
66
57
44
58
65
76
Number of
Students
Earning
3, 4, 5
2008
2009
23 23 28 29 33 51 76
Source: 2010 AP National Conference, Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School District 233
How did we get here?
• 2010-2011: Shifting the culture
–“Implementation dip”
–Strategic approach to growth
Thomas AP World History
Enrollment 2006-2012
180
158
160
140
120
100
80
67
77
76
80
82
74
60
40
20
0
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
136%
Growth
over
7 years
How did we get here?
• 2010-2011: Shifting the culture
–“Implementation dip”
–Strategic approach to growth
–Case study: using data to align
beliefs and practice
Criteria for Honoring Students
 Aligning
 what
we believe and value
 with
 what we honor and celebrate
Criteria for Honoring Students

Summa Cum Laude – GPA 95% and above, three or
more Advanced Placement Exams

Magna Cum Laude – GPA 90 and above, two or more
Advanced Placement Exams

Cum Laude – GPA 85 and above, one or more
Advanced Placement Exams
Criteria for Honoring Students
Sample
A
B
C
D
E
16
11
12
14
15
46
34
40
31
40
58
36
43
54
52
120
81
95
99
107
346
358
364
381
346
Honors
Summa Cum Laude
3or more AP’s
95+ GPA (3.67 +)
Magna Cum Laude
2 or more AP’s
90-94.99 GPA (3.34-3.66)
Cum Laude
1 AP
85-89.99 GPA (3.0-3.33)
Total number of
students receiving honors
recognition
Total number of students in the graduating class
Where are we now?
• 2012-2013:
–Titan/Warrior Day (Middle Schools)
–Titan/Warrior Night (Parents)
–AP Review Night (Survivor)…branding
Where are we now?
• 2012-2013:
–Titan/Warrior Day (Middle Schools)
–Titan/Warrior Night (Parents)
–AP Review Night (Survivor)…branding
–AP Boot Camp/Summer Enrichment
–SWOT Analysis
The Board of Education is committed to excellence
and a growth mindset in education. In a growth
mindset all members of the Webster Schools
community believe that their most basic abilities can
be developed through dedication and hard work.
We are committed to supporting excellent
performance in the Webster Schools community. Our
mission, vision and core beliefs are the framework
from which we make all decisions.
The Board of Education is committed to excellence
and a growth mindset in education. In a growth
mindset all members of the Webster Schools
community believe that their most basic abilities can
be developed through dedication and hard work.
We are committed to supporting excellent
performance in the Webster Schools community. Our
mission, vision and core beliefs are the framework
from which we make all decisions.
Webster AP Students
2006-2012
1000
913
900
800
700
600
568
595
598
621
663
710
500
# of students
400
61%
Growth
Over
7 yrs
300
200
100
0
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Webster AP Exams Written
2006-2012
1800
1627
1600
1400
1319
1200
1072
1000
946
1152
1223
974
72%
800
Growth
Over
600
7 yrs
400
200
0
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Webster Passing AP Exams (3+)
2006-2012
1400
1249
1200
1073
1004
1000
886
800
933
794
717
# of passing exams
600
74%
Growth
Over
7 yrs
400
200
0
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Webster Central School District
AP Growth Data 2006-2012
1800
100%
82%
1600
1400
83%
81%
82%
81%
90%
77%
76%
80%
70%
1200
60%
Total Count
1000
50%
800
40%
600
30%
400
20%
200
0
10%
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
# of students taking exams
568
595
598
621
663
710
913
# of passing exams
717
794
886
933
1004
1073
1249
# of Exams
946
974
1072
1152
1223
1319
1627
%of passing exams
76%
82%
83%
81%
82%
81%
77%
0%
Feedback/Contact
Greg_Ahlquist@websterschools.org
Brian_Weller@websterschools.org
Thank you!