By Brandon Sullivan, upper school academic dean
A look through the upper school course offerings is a journey through depth and breadth. It resembles a collegiate program with opportunities in every academic department: English, history, mathematics, performing arts, physical education, science, visual arts, and world language. Within each of these disciplines, students chart their own journey, combining opportunities for learning, rigor, creativity, and innovation. A question we often receive is, “Does Wellington offer Advanced Placement (AP) courses?”
APs are college-level courses whose curriculum is prescribed by College Board – the same entity that manages the SAT standardized test. Because these courses are branded, like tissues and Kleenex, they look the same across the country. At the conclusion of these classes in May, many students sit for the associated AP exams. Students passing these tests may earn several benefits as they apply to and matriculate at colleges. First, taking AP courses and their exams allows students to stand out to colleges – showing them that students are ready for challenging material and investing in their academic interests. Second, passing these exams may lead to college credits, accelerating graduate dates, reducing college costs, and providing more scheduling flexibility. Finally, students interested in these topics experience a deep dive into their content areas, which may reinforce their majors and career choices.
As a result, the APs can be powerful tools for students and their families. At Wellington, we support our students who wish to pursue AP exams. Here is how we navigate that trajectory and why. Over a decade ago, our upper school faculty reviewed national curriculum, including International Baccalaureates (IB) and Advanced Placements (AP). Our physics teacher began the conversation by asking, “Is it more important for me to teach the classical mechanics assessed on the AP exam or the real-world physics happening in college laboratories and research corporations?” Indeed, state-of-the-art in physics is heavily inspired by the historical lessons of the field. Still, the AP curriculum leaves little time to explore the concepts that ignite student passions – topics like the James Webb Space Telescope, gravitational waves, and String Theory. In the same meeting, our Latin teacher agreed, “I can teach the content covered on the AP Test, or I can teach the material students need to be successful classics majors – it is unfortunate those do not better overlap.” As the discussion cycled through each department, we concluded that the AP curriculum was too restricted to offer the dynamic and innovative curriculum we believe is essential to catalyze student engagement and success.
The next year, Wellington removed AP courses from the curriculum but bolstered the catalog with honors and advanced courses so students could continue to seek challenge and build strong resumes for college applications. We aimed to capitalize on student engagement, knowing it directly leads to passion and learning. In collaboration with the Wellington Initiative, the school collects “dots” to measure student engagement. These dots quantify a student's challenge in the classroom and their love for the course. When a student experiences both love and challenge, we know they are engaged. The vast majority of our students report their adoration and challenge in courses – a true testament to the talent and expertise of our faculty. The end result is better learning.
What about the other advantages offered by APs? In practice, many of the collegiate benefits associated with APs are tied to the comprehensive exam taken in the spring. Wellington students still take these exams, even if they are no longer enrolled in AP-branded courses. In fact, Wellington administers nearly 100 AP exams each year in a variety of disciplines. Our content covers the skills and concepts employers find valuable and provides avenues for students who wish to take tests and earn college credits. In recent years, students have sat for Biology, Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Chemistry, Computer Science A, English Language & Composition, English Literature & Composition, French Language & Culture, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism, Physics C: Mechanics, Precalculus, Psychology, Spanish Language & Culture, Statistics, US Government & Politics, and US History. Our student interests are diverse, and we are thrilled students leverage their abilities to engage with these finals.
One of the most popular exams is AP United States History – affectionately known as APUSH. This exam is generally taken at the end of the sophomore year after students have finished Ms. Lirio’s and Ms. Kershner’s U.S. History. In the same department, Ms. Cornett prepares students for exams in economics, government, and politics.
Wellington is known as a science powerhouse, with students publishing in academic journals, interning at The Ohio State University, and earning finalist honors in nationwide science competitions like Regeneron. Our STEM-minded students take APs in physics, biology, and chemistry. Students in Advanced Chemistry will explore concepts like nomenclature and stoichiometry to prepare for the AP exam, but they also explore laboratory techniques, scientific writing, and imperative topics like sustainability.
In the English department, Jaguars are taking diverse courses that make many college students envious. Ms. Robbins explores Courageous Conversations, Creative Writing and Futurist Studies, and Stories of the Holocaust. Ms. Dison tackles classics like “Hamlet” and “Invisible Man,” and still explores ground-breaking literature through the lens of women in science fiction. Ms. McMuillin teaches students to unlock their creativity and ability to build suspense through The Art of the Detective Study. In all these classes, skills are embedded in reading, analysis, synthesis, and creation. As a result, our students arrive confidently to take both AP English exams.
Upper school students have the option to enroll in French, Latin, or Spanish. All students take three years of these courses, and many continue with a fourth year. The honors and advanced offerings prepare students for the AP exams and college placement tests. Recently, Wellington’s Spanish students participated in OSU’s placement test for the language. All our students were placed into college sophomore-level courses even though most were only high school juniors.
Finally, our math and computer science faculty have developed courses to prepare students for a variety of challenge levels – including APs. Mr. Kruzan, director of technology, teaches Computer Science Essentials, laying the foundation for AP exams and advanced electives like Digital Game Design, Object-oriented Programming, and App Design. In the classroom next door, Ms. Lin can be found leading an activity to prepare her students for the AP Statistics exam, and across the hall, Mr. Ropke is writing calculus questions that his students solve with enthusiasm.
In every academic department, Wellington faculty has designed meaningful curriculum that prepares students for college, careers, and the AP exams that help students navigate their educational trajectories. In fact, our “Beyond AP” courses prepare students for exams better than the national average – by more than 20%! Our curriculum allows students to be creative and pursue their passions and allows those interested to demonstrate mastery through AP exams.
A Wellington education is a vibrant journey where curiosity thrives alongside rigorous standards. Students embrace challenges and cultivate perseverance as they navigate their path through the upper school. Amid the dedication, laughter, and camaraderie, transform the experience into joyful memories. Each step taken is a testament to their growth, shaping them into lifelong learners. In the end, the diploma symbolizes achievement and a celebration of exploration and passion. APs may be a destination along this journey, and our school has a strong history of support and performance.