Perceptions Regarding the Inclusion of Students in Rigorous Courses of Study at Exeter Township High School

Rigorous courses of study provide students with a variety of academic benefits in high school and during their post-secondary careers. Understanding this information requires high schools to provide Advanced Placement (AP) and dual enrollment opportunities for students, and assist with enrolling students in these courses. Although Exeter Township High School offers a total of 37 AP and dual enrollment courses, the percentage of students enrolling in rigorous courses of study is less than the county and state averages. This mixed-methods study examined the perspectives of teachers, counselors, and administrators at Exeter Township High School and Exeter Township School District to gain a better understanding of their views on enrollment opportunities for students in rigorous courses of study, student preparedness for success in rigorous courses, and the impact of District-level decision-making on students enrolling in rigorous courses of study. Through the review of relevant literature, the collection of survey data, and semi-structured interviews, this study was able to make the following conclusions, potentially impacting low enrollment in rigorous courses of study at Exeter Township High School: participants do not share the same views on student inclusion in rigorous courses of study at the high school, the high school does not have a plan to identify and recruit students with AP and dual enrollment potential to enroll in these courses, the District lacks a curricular plan in core content areas, and the District is not providing AP and dual enrollment teachers with meaningful professional development opportunities.