BMR principal reports drop in AP participation; outlines steps to boost enrollment

Principal Jill Follis told the school committee Aug. 19 that Blackstone-Millville students sat for 91 Advanced Placement exams in spring 2021, with 57 students participating and 29 students scoring a 3 or higher. Follis said one student achieved a score of 5 in world history.

Follis reviewed a five-year trend showing a decline in participation during the pandemic and said some of the decrease reflects hybrid and remote learning during 2020–21. She outlined strategies to increase participation and diversify enrollment, including student panels to let current AP students share experiences with younger students, an AP information fair, and conversations with instructors to identify barriers to success.

Board members asked for additional fiscal details — specifically whether one-student classes are delivered locally or served by online offerings — and Follis committed to providing enrollment and delivery-method data after the meeting.

Follis also said the district will analyze demographic breakdowns to expand access among male students and students of color and work with teachers to target instruction in areas where AP exams show weaknesses.