By Mehak Imran

Fair Lawn High School, renowned for its involvement in Advanced Placement courses, is making strides towards academic excellence and college readiness by adopting the AP Seminar course this past year. 

Advanced Placement (AP) classes are a rigorous academic program offered by the College Board that thousands of high schools over the country offer to students. By taking these classes and passing the corresponding exams in the spring, students have the opportunity to earn college credit while still in high school. AP courses challenge students to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and prepare them for college-level coursework.

In addition to the academic benefits, taking AP courses can also boost a student's college application and potentially save them time and money on college tuition. At FLHS, there are over 20 AP classes available, including English Language and Composition, Calculus, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, History, and multiple foreign languages.

The AP Seminar course, taught by FLHS English teacher Annie Yon, is the first course in a two-year Capstone program that emphasizes the development of critical thinking skills, enhances students' abilities to conduct research, write cogent arguments, and present them through a multimedia presentation. The course provides students with a platform to explore real-world issues, such as climate change and injustices, from multiple perspectives and enables them to develop research and communication skills that will be valuable for their academic pursuits and beyond.

A senior at Fair Lawn High School shared her thoughts on the course: "I feel that the AP Seminar course has taught me how to write and conduct research. Before this course, I had never written a research paper, but now I feel confident in my ability to conduct research using credible sources, such as academic journals, and present my findings to others."

Her thoughts were echoed by other students enrolled in the course. The students praised the course for its rigor and the valuable skills they have gained from taking it.

In addition to the AP Seminar course, Fair Lawn High School is also seeking to implement the AP Research course, which will allow students to earn a Capstone diploma. The AP Research course is an extension of the AP Seminar course, offering students a chance to conduct independent research on a topic of their choice.

A current junior at Fair Lawn High School also expressed his excitement about the possibility of earning a Capstone diploma: "The AP Research course will enable me to explore a topic I am passionate about and help me further develop my research skills.” The implementation of the AP Seminar and AP Research courses aligns with Fair Lawn High School's goal to provide its students with a well-rounded education that prepares them for college and beyond.

"The introduction of these courses is an exciting opportunity for our students," said Dr. Pankiewicz, the English Supervisor of Fair Lawn, "The AP Seminar and AP Research courses provide a unique opportunity for our students to develop critical thinking skills, conduct research, and explore topics that are of interest to them."

In conclusion, Fair Lawn High School's adoption of the AP Seminar course and its plan to implement the AP Research course for a Capstone diploma is a significant stride in its pursuit of academic excellence. The courses provide students with a platform to develop essential skills that will be beneficial to them beyond their academic pursuits. The feedback from students enrolled in these courses has been overwhelmingly positive, and the school looks forward to the endless possibilities that these courses offer.