Nationally, 1,900 of 36,000 high schools made the list.
Central High School in Springfield is one of three high schools in the Pioneer Valley that made the Washington Post's 2011 Challenge List.SPRINGFIELD – Central High School is one of three Western Massachusetts high schools which made a national Washington Post listing of challenge index public high schools.
Sabis International Charter School in Springfield and Northampton High School were the other high schools in Western Massachusetts which made the list. Nationally, 1,900 of 36,000 high schools made the list.
To qualify for the list, a high school had to have half its students take at least one advanced placement, international baccalaureate or advanced international certificate of education test in their junior year and one in their senior year.
“You had to throw your hat into the ring to be considered for this,” Azell Cavaan, chief communications officer for the Springfield public schools, said.
Central High School Principal Thaddeus Tokarz said that in the past five years the number of Central High School students enrolled in advanced placement courses more than doubled, going from 222 to 517.
“Our program has grown, exponentially,” Tokarz said.
Advanced placement classes are college level courses that can earn high school students college credit upon successful completion.
Alan IngramSchool Superintendent Dr. Alan J. Ingram congratulated Tokarz and the entire staff and student body at Central High School, calling the distinction a “great honor for the entire school district.”
Central High School is the largest school in Western Massachusetts with more than 2,000 students.
Karen Reuter, director of Sabis International Charter School in Springfield, said that a high school’s offering advanced placement courses bridges “a level of expectation” that graduating seniors can do college level work.
Reuter said she is proud that Sabis was recognized for the number of juniors and seniors taking advanced placement courses.
“We have expanded our offerings in recent years,” she said.
Northampton High School Principal Nancy Athas said Northampton High School has improved in recent years in increasing the number of students taking advance placement courses.
She said Northampton High School staff have been encouraging students to take advance placement courses.
Payton Shubrick, a senior at Central High School, said she has taken five advanced placement courses during her four years at the school.
She said the courses helped give her the confidence to apply to colleges and visit campuses. Shubrick will attend College of the Holy Cross in Worcester in the fall.