Students share the challenges they’ve faced in AP, IB and Honors courses
Advanced Placement (AP) classes and the International Baccalaureate Program (IB), as well as Honors courses offered at SMNW work to further develop students' critical thinking skills and prepare them for higher education. Allowing students to step their foot further in the door of post-high school education, college credit is offered in AP and IB courses.
AP, IB and Honors classes are offered to all students at SMNW, however, despite their benefits, these programs continue to lack diversity. The amount of people of color in advanced classes is disproportionate to the percentage in the NW population.
“There’s no rule saying people of color can’t be in advanced classes,” IB student Michael Houser said. “But there are implied societal norms and expectations that prevent people of color from being in them.”
In an attempt to tackle this issue, 974 students were surveyed to uncover the primary reason why each chose to enroll or not enroll in advanced classes last year.
At one point, students were asked to assess the culture and environment of advanced versus non-advanced courses. Some of the words associated with advanced classes were “hardworking,” “white,” “wealthy,” “organized” and “disciplined.” On the other hand, words associated with standard-level classes included “lazy,” “diverse,” “misbehaved,” “low expectations” and “loud.”
“All these obviously have racial connotations,” Houser said. “The fact that diverse and white were put into separate categories [in association with] standard and advanced classes is not a good thing.”
This survey has provided deep insight into the racial issues that seep into the IB, AP and Honors programs.
“[These] issues are part of the school system and part of the culture we live in,” IB student Alyson Ramsey said. “It is less of a problem with the classes themselves, and more that IB is an example of the way that the issues that we live with are seen.”
On the survey, students noted that a lack of resources and opportunities, economic disadvantages, biases and system-wide racial injustice are at the root of these data disparities and lack of diversity within these programs.
According to the survey, 65.8% of students indicated that “hard-working” is the top quality students should have in order to be in advanced-level courses. This can become a problematic mindset when many people of color have been surrounded by societal stigmas and stereotypes.
“From a young age, many students of color have been discouraged from taking advanced classes because others tell them that these classes might be too ‘hard’ or ‘challenging’ for them, which is not the case,” AP, IB and CAA Medical Science Program student Janmeent Singh said. “The lack of information given to students of color about advanced classes [is also a barrier]. It's also important to take into consideration socioeconomic factors many people of color [may face] when taking an AP class.”
But the problem goes beyond just being misinformed or suffering from socioeconomic disparities. Once a student of color has entered the IB, AP or Honors programs, they still face barriers.
“A white student and a student of color could have the same initiative and drive, yet the white student would make it farther,” Houser said. “You have to work two times as hard to get half as far as a student of color, because of implicit biases from teachers and counselors, and from these societal expectations [for you] to not go as far as you want to go.”
Biases and stereotypes can have a negative impact on students both enrolled and not enrolled in these programs.
“There have been countless times my intelligence has been defined solely on the fact that I am Indian and stereotypically smart,” Singh said. “Growing up, and even now, I've never been credited for my countless hours of studying and consistency. Instead it's always ‘Oh, of course you're smart, you’re Indian.’ [Other] people of color face opposite stereotyping. Stereotyping is a big issue — the way a person dresses, acts or talks is not a measure of intelligence and should not be used as such.”
In spite of the current barriers students of color currently face, they should pursue advanced courses.
“The advice I would give students of color: I know how hard it is to unlearn the idea that you are not ‘smart enough’ to be in advanced classes, especially considering the fact that you most likely don’t see other students who look like you in advanced courses,” Singh said. “Don’t let it discourage you, you are incredibly intelligent and capable. Advocate for yourself and find information that can help you open doors to new opportunities.”