160 District 155 Students Attend First-Ever AP Boot Camp

Submission by District 155

School doesn’t officially begin for Community High School District 155 until August 24, but some students at Crystal Lake Central High School decided to get a jump start. About 160 students attended Central’s first Advanced Placement (AP) Boot Camp. The one-day sessions were hosted on July 28 and August 4.

“We want to be more proactive in supporting students who choose to take on the rigor of AP courses. We put together a one-day AP Boot Camp for all first-time AP students,” said Michelle Streit, Humanities division lead.

Students enrolled in their first AP classes this fall had an opportunity to learn from experienced AP students. Those students applied to be leaders and ran the camp. The goal of the one-day session was to help students understand the rigors of AP courses. They focused on team-building, communication, organization, stress management, reading, and study skills. The boot camp was also an opportunity for students to network by meeting other students who are new to AP, current AP teachers, and students who have demonstrated success in such courses.

The idea came from discussions at a Model School conference that Central teachers attended. They also worked in collaboration with McHenry West who initiated a similar camp last year. Central’s division leaders began researching and developing the curriculum last fall. The student leaders applied and were trained for three hours. The student leaders completed each activity and discussed effective group facilitation strategies.

Brochures and emails were sent to all families who had first time AP students. Alex Timmerman, a sophomore at Central, is enrolled in two AP classes this fall; AP Seminar and AP Human Geography.

“I was looking to learn new habits and tips that will help me to be successful in AP classes. I learned the importance of using your classmates as a resource, and that the teachers really are looking to help you. The biggest thing I learned was the importance of time management,” said Timmerman.

Students completed an exit survey so organizers could gain feedback to revise the AP Boot Camp for next year. That feedback was very positive.

“We will continue to offer this boot camp in the future. We continue to challenge students academically. An important part of this is supporting them and building their capacity to manage challenging coursework,” said Steve Knope, International Studies division lead.

The number of students taking an advanced placement course continues to increase in D155. During the 2015-16 school year 1,763 students took an AP course. Those students took 3,507 AP exams. The percentage of D155 students completing an AP course has risen from 14.3% to 31.5% over the last five years.

“This is another example of how dedicated our teachers and staff are to ensuring all students succeed. Our teachers continue to create opportunities to prepare students for their future while offering them the support they need,” said Dr. Johnnie Thomas, superintendent.