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Mayor Harp: AP courses the ticket to narrowing achievement gap in New Haven schools

NEW HAVEN — A couple of weeks ago, New Haven Mayor Toni Harp went to Washington to meet with members of the federal Department of Education, asking for ti...

NEW HAVEN -- A couple of weeks ago, New Haven Mayor Toni Harp went to Washington to meet with members of the federal Department of Education, asking for tips on how to help the Elm City reduce the achievement gap.

There was a unified response as to what’s worked best: “When districts decide to give college-level or AP classes to everyone and for those who don't do well, give them assistance,” said Harp.

At Co-operative Arts and Humanities High School in New Haven, over 30 percent of the students currently take Advanced Placement classes, the highest rate in the city.

Pushing students to go above and beyond and take classes that you know may or may not be outside their comfort sound is actually a good idea,” said Sumiah Gay, a co-op senior, who first took AP classes as a junior. She will be attending Western Connecticut State University next year.

“The more a student is exposed to AP classes, the more they will benefit them, not only in the present, but also in the future,” said Robert Manghnani, the co-op's AP coordinator.

One co-op senior has studied causes for the achievement gap, which includes a student's home environment and family background.

“The parents didn't go to college or the parents didn't, weren't able to graduates for a plethora of reasons,” Tyler Holloway, a co-op Senior.

What the mayor heard in Washington was welcome news to city’s third-year superintendent, who says his schools are already whittling away at the achievement gap.

“What we know is second-year college success has improved, first year college enrollment has improved. Graduation rates have improved since 2009,” said Superintendent Garth Harries.

The graduation rate in New Haven Public Schools stands at 75 percent, which Harries says is a 17 percent improvement since 2009.

“The board set the goal of an 85 percent four-year graduation rate and a 95 percent six-year graduation rate,” said Harries.

While he says he's happy that New Haven is slightly better of than Hartford, Waterbury or Bridgeport in regards to achievement gaps, Harries says it's his goal for his schools to attain the same graduation and college attendance levels as wealthier, suburban communities in Connecticut.

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