SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - St. Patrick's High School has announced it will start an advanced placement program, which allows students to take college or university level courses while still in high school, beginning in August.

Emma Welsh, a Grade 11 student at St. Patrick's High School plans to take the advanced placement program in August. - Adrian Lysenko/NNSL photo

"Schools work hard to find the opportunity for students who are in the middle ground or struggling," said Todd Stewart, vice principal at St. Patrick's High School.

"This is an enrichment opportunity for students at the other end of the spectrum."

More than 570 schools in Canada are taking part in the program, which is recognized by over 90 per cent of universities. Sir John Franklin High School has been involved in the program for seven years. Students involved in French language classes have scored the highest international percentage.

"It's a great opportunity if students stay with the program," said Micheline Ricard, head of the French department at Sir John.

Students in Grade 10 will have the opportunity to take certain classes as part of the advancement program and will continue to take these courses until the end of Grade 12 when they will take an exam.

If students take certain courses, which are part of the program, those credits could go toward university classes. Students will also be able to find out if they have been accepted into university more quickly and will be eligible for scholarships.

"The students are still required to do their 100 credits but when they take the (advanced placement) program they can get other benefits," Stewart said. "There's no downside, if students don't pass the exam they still graduate high school." He said the response has been positive from teachers and parents.

"It's a great opportunity for our students and provides more options in the academic realm," said Gerard Landry, English teacher at St. Pat's.

"It's a better opportunity for them to improve their skills for university."

He said he talked to former students who said they had difficulty with English in post secondary school.

"It's a rigorous and demanding program there to challenge those who want to be challenged."