In an effort to increase college readiness, Lane is removing some regular level courses and replacing them with honors and AP courses according to Assistant Principal Ms. Hanly.

Freshmen that previously would have tested into honors World Studies will  now be taking AP Human Geography. Regulars World Studies will no longer be offered and students that test into regulars will be placed in honors.

“This is a college prep school, and we believe that more AP classes and starting earlier will better prepare students for college,” Ms. Hanly said.

AP Human Geography is described in Lane’s course catalog as the “study [of] social issues on a regional basis.” Throughout the year students study urban design, agriculture, cultural pattern, population demographics, and environmental issues. The administration believes freshmen are better able to handle the material in AP Human Geography than other AP classes. Hanly said another reason that they made this decision is because the CPS course catalog allows AP Human Geography to take the place of a World Studies credit.

The score report for last year’s AP Human Geography shows that the 93 freshmen that took the course last year received an average score of 3.77 out of a possible 5. Higher than the 10-12 grade average 3.20. Sophomores at Lane had the highest average of 3.95.

“Our hope is that starting with one AP class freshman year will be easier for students rather than taking two or three their junior year without any prior knowledge or experience of what an AP class is like,” Hanly said.

Last year the freshmen who started in LTAC in 7th grade took AP Human Geography. Alex Chanen, Div. 752, was one of those freshmen.

“Coming from the LTAC program I did not have any other choice but to take AP Human Geography my freshman year, which was nerve-wracking,” Chanen said.

Chanen does not believe he had the necessary time management skills as a freshman to effectively complete this course. He does believe it is a good intro to AP courses, but is concerned that it is too much for students coming from middle school. AP Human Geography will still be offered as an elective to upperclassmen who took Honors World Studies their freshman year.