AP Seminar has one of the highest nationwide pass rates of 88.3%. However, the exam scores at Jackson-Reed this year may contradict the status quo. 

Students in all three Seminar classes experienced problems. One class cycled through two teachers and a permanent sub, another had to move between four rooms, and one even had to explain the curriculum to their teacher. Many AP Seminar students “did not learn anything and just did work for other classes,” junior Colette Bernards said. 

The course allows educators to mold the curriculum to any focus, as long as the research skills required by College Board are taught. Before leaving Jackson-Reed after the 2021-22 school year, then-assistant principal Steven Miller divided AP Seminar into three classes, each with a different research focus and teacher, none of which had taught Seminar before. None of the teachers were available to comment.

In addition to an AP exam in May, students must submit a portfolio of research papers and presentations to their course instructor. This portfolio is to be completed throughout the year.

To prepare for AP classes, teachers are encouraged—but not required—to complete an in-person summer training. “While in some classes teachers can get by without summer training, I feel it is necessary for Seminar,” former Seminar teacher Belle Belew said, especially since teachers must grade a portion of their students’ portfolios.

This year’s Seminar teachers were first informed of their positions within weeks of the start of the school year, after the summer training was available for completion, leaving them to either complete an online training or be unable to grade portfolios.

JR’s AP coordinator, Elizabeth Levenson, had to request an extension for the online training as teachers failed to complete it until April, just one month before the exam. Materials for the portfolio were not handed out until this time, leaving students with little time to fulfill portfolio requirements.

“We haven’t been taken seriously and then out of nowhere, we’ve been expected to act like we’ve been working this whole year,” said Kalea Isaac, a senior taking Seminar. 

The lack of time students had to complete the portfolio caused stress on students and teachers, resulting in Levenson reaching out to College Board for another extension on students submitting the portfolio.

Further, instead of gaining college credit for the course by earning a three or higher on the exam, students gain credit towards a certificate earned by passing both AP Seminar and its second-level course, AP Research. 

Research was not on course selections for this upcoming year. Without being able to complete both courses, the value of taking Seminar decreases, as the AP Capstone diploma is highly valued by colleges. 

Course selections for the 2023-24 school year have already been completed without AP Research on the course list.