University of Notre Dame’s AP-TIP announces 2019-20 results and AP Teachers, School and Affiliate of the Year

Schools in the University of Notre Dame’s Advanced Placement Teacher Investment Program (AP-TIP) continued to show gains in 2019-20 in the number of high school students taking Advanced Placement math, science and English courses and earning college credit through the courses.

At a ceremony on November 6, AP-TIP released its results for last school year and named its AP-TIP Teachers and Schools of the Year. Part of the Center for STEM Education within the Institute for Educational Initiatives at Notre Dame, AP-TIP combines training and incentives for students and teachers to increase the number of students taking AP math, science and English course and earning qualifying scores of 3, 4, or 5 on the AP exams for those courses.

While dealing with the pandemic that forced schools to turn to virtual instruction beginning in March, 1,981 students in AP-TIP’s sixth and seventh cohorts took 2,734 AP courses; 895 students earned a total of 1,248 qualifying scores. Schools that participate in AP-TIP show an average annual gain in enrollment of 64 percent and an average annual gain in qualifying scores of 74 percent.

AP-TIP also recognized its teachers and schools of the year:

• English Teacher of the Year: Christine Weatherby, an AP English Language teacher at East Chicago Central High School in East Chicago, Indiana
• Math Teacher of the Year: Mark Blachly, an AP Computer Science Principles teacher at New Palestine High School in New Palestine, Indiana
• Math Teacher of the Year: Lisa Hardin, an AP Calculus AB and AP Calculus BC teacher at New Palestine High School in New Palestine, Indiana
• Science Teacher of the Year: Kasey Knaebel, an AP Physics 1 teacher at Gibson Southern High School in Fort Branch, Indiana
• School of the Year: Western High School in Russiaville, Indiana
• Affiliate School of the Year: Marion High School in Marion, Indiana

AP classes allow students to tackle college-level work while still in high school and earn college credit and placement. More than 25,000 students have participated in AP-TIP since its inception, accounting for more than 14,800 qualifying scores in math, English and science and nearly $12 million in college credit savings for Indiana families.

Learn more at iei.nd.edu/aptipin.