Big Hinsdale South Gap In AP Classes: Official

DARIEN, IL – Few students of color at Hinsdale South High School are taking advantage of college-track courses, the principal said last week.

In response to questions at a school board meeting, Principal Patrick Hardy said more than 1,000 slots in Advanced Placement classes were taken last year. Students of color, he said, made up less than 100 of them.

Overall, 43 percent of South's student body is made up of students of color – 17 percent African American, 17 percent Hispanic and 9 percent Asian, according to the Illinois Report Card.

This year, the school interviewed students about why they did not access the Advanced Placement pathway, the principal said.

"Why didn't you even take advantage of it? We learned a lot about what their feelings are and what they think is going to happen in those classrooms," Hardy said.

He said 51 students of color were invited to breakfast the day after the school board meeting. He said the school would urge them to take advantage of Advanced Placement opportunities because the College Board says they have potential in such classes.

"We are hoping that those who have the AP potential will rebuff the reasons we were given and actually take the opportunity," the principal said.

He said he didn't have at his fingertips the percentages of students taking Advanced Placement courses.

Jason Markey, assistant superintendent for academics, told the board that the district would follow up with that information.