Harlan Kirgan
Eunice High School leads St. Landry Parish in the number of students earning college credits through the Advanced Placement exams.
In the 2017-2018 school year, there were 49 students taking AP exams and 20.4 percent scored 3 or greater, which qualified them for college credit.
The previous year, 70 Eunice High students took the AP exams and 8.1 percent earned college credits.
In the 2015-2016 school year, 70 students took the exams and 4.3 percent earned college credits.
And, in the 2014-2015 school year, 30 students took AP exams and 10.8 percent qualified for college credits.
Principal Mitch Fontenot said AP courses are harder than regular courses.
“It is very challenging. That’s why you have a lot of kids who really don’t get into the AP. We are having more each year as it goes,” he said.
According to numbers released by the state Department of Education, more students at Eunice High take the AP exams than any other school in St. Landry Parish.
Coming second is Beau Chene High School.
“I tend to believe that at Eunice High I think we challenge our kids a little more than the other schools. I think we have a greater number of kids take the AP because they do like to be challenged and we do push our kids...” he said.
Even if a student taking an AP course does not score high enough to earn college credits, Fontenot said the challenge in the course is enough for them.
There are five AP courses at Eunice High with up to 23 students in the classes, he said. The classes are U.S. history, English, environmental science, European history and biology 2.
Other AP exam results by school in St. Landry Parish. (Students tested and percentage scoring 3 or higher)
Opelousas Senior High School: 2014-15 — 30 tested, 12.9 percent; 2015-16 — 70 tested, 5.5 percent; 2016-17 — 20 tested, 14.3 percent; and 2017-18 — 30 tested, less than 1 percent.
Beau Chene High School: 2013-14 — 10 tested, 17.6 percent; 2014-15 — 50 tested, 7.8 percent; 2015-16 — 60 tested, 11.9 percent; 2016-17 — 74 tested, 24.3 percent; and 2017-18 — 40 tested, 17.8 percent.
Northwest High School: 2014-15 — 20 tested, 8.7 percent; 2015-16 — 40 tested, 6.8 percent; 2016-17 — 40 tested, 14.6 percent; and 2017-18 — 30 tested 8.8 percent.
Port Barre High School: 2012-13 — 10 tested, 0 percentage; 2013-14 — 10 tested, 0 percentage; 2014-15 — 10 test, 0 percentage; 2015-16 — 30 tested, 6. 3 percent; 2016-17 — 10 tested, 5. 6 percent; and 2017-18 — 20 tested, 9. 1 percent.
Magnet Academy Cultural Arts: 2012-13 — 10 tested, 0 percent; 2013-14 — 10 tested, 30.8 percent; 2014-15 — 10 tested, 0 percent; 2015-16 — 30 tested, 18.2 percent; 2016-17 — 10 tested, 42.9 percent; and 2017-18 — 10 tested, 23.5 percent.
St. Landry Parish: 2011-12 — 10, 13.3 percent; 2012-13 — 10 tested, 23.1 percent; 2013-14 — 40 tested, and 19 percent; 2014-15, 156 tested, 12.2 percent; 2015-16 — 319 tested, 8.2 percent; 2016-17 — 249 tested, 16.5 percent; and 2017-18 — 198 tested, 13.6 percent.