St. Vrain’s AP Summer Institute expands to 365 participants, posts $52,000 surplus

St. Vrain Valley Schools staff told the Board of Education on Aug. 13 that the district’s Advanced Placement Summer Institute operated independently in 2025, drew 365 teacher participants and closed the program with a $52,000 surplus.
“At its heart, the Advanced Placement Summer Institute exists to ensure every student in St. Vrain has the highest quality instruction and college level coursework delivered by highly trained, inspired teachers,” presenter Matt Buckler said during the board update.
Buckler said this was the first year the district ran APSI independently after two years of partnership with the Colorado Education Initiative. He noted regional recognition for the program: the College Board held an AP Teacher Awards and School and District Leader Forum at the St. Vrain institute, and seven St. Vrain teachers were honored by the College Board.
The presenter said participation rose from 233 in 2024 to 365 in 2025, a 57 percent increase; the institute provided 37 scholarships to district AP teachers and plans to expand course offerings from about 23 to 29–30 AP courses next summer. Buckler also said the district plans to develop more St. Vrain teachers as AP consultants so the district can both enhance instruction and offer paid leadership opportunities.
Board members praised the program’s growth and its role in showcasing district teaching talent to the region. Buckler credited district academic leadership and cited staff who managed costs and logistics.
Why it matters: APSI trains AP teachers who will deliver college‑level coursework to high school students. Growth in participation and the decision to reinvest the surplus could broaden professional development offerings and support more district teachers through scholarships.
Background and next steps: Buckler said the district will consider adding AP Spanish Literature and other courses based on participant demand and consultant availability; course planning requires consultant recruitment months in advance. The board received the report as informational; no policy action was taken at the meeting.