First Coast High School College Board EXCELerator Program

Working with selected schools, the College Board will implement a set of research-based interventions aimed at dramatically increasing enrollment and success in advanced courses--especially Advanced Placement (AP) courses in mathematics, science, English, world languages, and social studies.

• Advanced Placement Program®
• SpringBoardÔ Math & ELA
• College Board Standards for College SuccessÔ
• SAT Reasoning TestÔ
• Pre-AP Initiatives
• Leadership Training

• PSAT/NMSQT®
• AP PotentialÔ
• SAT Readiness ProgramÔ
• Professional Development for Guidance Counselors
• Training in Curriculum Writing
• Training in Data Analysis
• Master Schedule Training

• CollegeEd®
• MyRoadÔ
• AVID®
• District Coach

Five key elements that charaterize EXCELerator Schools:

1. Implementation of rigorous academic programs for all students, ranging from efforts aimed at increasing the literacy levels of underachieving students to accelerated and enriched learning programs in math, science, English, and social studies.

2. Extensive and ongoing professional development for superintendents, principals, teachers, counselors. 

3. Extensive use of data to inform and drive teaching, learning, and assessment within each school, with a particular focus in using data to examine the extent to which students are mastering math, science, reading, writing, and critical thinking skills, and the extent to which schools modify their instructional programs and strategies to meet the needs of every student in all core subjects.

4. College planning and preparation including counseling and advisory programs that support students' efforts to better prepare for enrollemnt and success in college, including taking steps as early as middle school.

5. Developmental supports that create a personalized learning environment and community for every student.

Why participate in the EXCELerator program?

The urgent need for improvement in our nation's secondary schools requires an aggressive response, and the College Board is enthusiastic about taking on this initiative.  Through a combination of foundation and public funding, the College Board is working to transform selected high schools--especially in urban communities--into EXCELerator Schools.

• The outcomes of this initiative within the participating EXCELerator Schools and districts include:

• Increased academic achievement;

• Increased high school graduation rates, increased college-readiness rates, and decreased college remediation rates;

• Creation of a school culture focused on college readiness for all students, and greater student engagement with challenging, meaningful content;

• The creation of a national model for deep and lasting systemic change.