Kalaheo High Marks College Readiness Week with NMSI Launch
February 10, 2014
HONOLULU – A national program aimed at college-and career-readiness kicked off another phase today at Kalaheo High School. The National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI) encourages high school students to enroll in Advanced Placement (AP) classes and take AP exams.
NMSI is focused on providing exceptional math and science education in high schools on or near U.S. military bases through the highly effective AP program. The program provides excellence and continuity for students whenever their families are transferred because AP course expectations are standard across the country. Today’s event included the presentation of a $112,000 check to Kalaheo High School from NMSI, thanks to a generous grant from the U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA). The funds help Kalaheo expand their AP course offerings and are also used for incentive rewards for students who achieve qualifying scores of 3 or higher on select AP exams.
In recent years, four Hawaii high schools – Campbell, Leilehua, Mililani and Radford – launched the NMSI Comprehensive AP program with support from ExxonMobil, DoDEA, and the Office of Naval Research (ONR). In the 2012-13 school year, these schools showed a 65 percent combined increase in the number of students taking math, science and English AP exam. Additionally, those students combined for an 89 percent increase in AP scores of 3 or higher, which potentially qualifies them for college-level credit. These gains were made over a two-year period from the 2010-11 school year.
“The incredible AP results at Campbell, Leilehua, Mililani and Radford high schools are proof that a state can work together with school and business leaders to help students succeed,” said Gregg Fleisher, chief academic officer at NMSI. “The State of Hawaii continues on the upward trend in AP success with Kalaheo High School implementing the college readiness program this 2013-14 school year.”
About 200 people gathered at Kalaheo High this afternoon to mark the achievement and reaffirm the commitment to student success.
Gov. Neil Abercrombie was also in attendance to officially proclaim Feb. 9-15 as “College Readiness Week” in the State of Hawaii.
“Preparing our keiki for a college education is crucial to Hawaii’s future,” Gov. Abercrombie said. “Our students hold the intellect and creativity that will ensure our state’s future challenges are met. Investing in education is an investment in our future.”
“What better way to recognize College Readiness Week than before the students who are proving that our partnership with NMSI affirms our commitment to equip students from military families with consistent, high-quality math, science and English education,” stated Schools Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi. “This would not be possible without the support of the Department of Defense and Educational Activity, the Office of Naval Research, and ExxonMobil.”
The Hawaii State Department of Education is the ninth largest U.S. school district and the only statewide educational system in the country. It is comprised of 288 schools and serves more than 185,000 students. Hawaii’s public school system was established in 1840 by King Kamehameha III. To learn more, visit HawaiiPublicSchools.org.
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Donalyn Dela Cruz
Director of Communications
Phone: (808) 586-3232
E-mail: donalyn_dela_cruz@hawaiidoe.org
Mary Ortiz, NMSI Communications, mortiz@nms.org, 214.346.1245