Advanced Placement Students Celebrate

Granada Hills High School students who tackled challenging college-level courses took time Monday night to celebrate the completion of their Advanced Placement tests at a reception sponsored by the school.

“It is a recognition kind of thing,” said Carol Radin, a college counselor and AP coordinator for the school. “These kids have worked really hard all year long, putting in lots of extra time, and so have the parents and teachers,” Radin said. “It’s also a way to stimulate other kids who might shy away from the tougher classes, to encourage them to challenge themselves.”

AP courses allow high school students to earn credit toward college degrees. About 500 of the 3,200 students at Granada Hills High this year enrolled in AP courses in mathematics, science, history, government, foreign languages, English and studio arts, Radin said.

To earn college credit, AP students must score high on voluntary college-level examinations administered toward the end of the year. The test results will be announced in July.

“All of these students put in many hours after school and on weekends during study sessions getting ready for those tests,” Radin said. Students who sign up to take AP classes are given homework assignments over summer break, Radin said.

The reception was highlighted by an address by Helie Lee, a Korean-American author who grew up in the San Fernando Valley. Students also received certificates of course completion and honor pins.