Tulsa Memorial High Celebrates New Comprehensive AP Program

A Tulsa High School is taking a big step that could lead them to the forefront of higher education.

Tulsa Memorial Wednesday celebrated joining the Comprehensive Advanced Placement program of The National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI). The school's addition to the program was made possible by a $508,266 grant from the Tulsa Community Foundation, the George Kaiser Family Foundation, and the Oklahoma State Department of Education.

7/8/2013 Related Story: Tulsa's Memorial High School Gets $508K Grant For AP Program

The Comprehensive Advanced Placement program tries to increase student participation and performance in math, science and English courses.

"These students will have an opportunity to take several AP courses. They'll be provided with the material and resources to be successful. They will have access to the best teachers around the country," said Dale Fleury, with NMSI.

State Superintendent Janet Barresi said in a press release Wednesday, she is thrilled to expand the program to Tulsa.

"The effectiveness of NMSI is evident and dramatic. Among the six state schools from Lawton Public Schools and the Mid-Del School District that currently partner with NMSI, the number of students who earned a qualifying score of three or more on the math, science and English five-point AP exam scale increased by more than 50 percent within the program's first year compared to 8.6 percent in Oklahoma and 7.2 percent nationally," Barresi said.

Memorial and the two other Oklahoma schools receiving this grant are expected to increase passing scores in AP math, science and English by 253 percent over the next three years.