Three questions: Will there be AP exams? Will there be college scholarships for graduating seniors? Will there be a graduation ceremony? Yes, yes and yes — but they will be radically different from the 2019 versions.
The Weekly checked in with Dave Murphy, the executive director of assessment and accountability with the Monroe County School District.
AP Exams
In 2019, the AP exams were about four hours long, with a multiple choice section and an essay section. In 2020 the AP biology exam, for example, has been redesigned with just two essay questions, and students are allowed to use notes and internet search engine results. The new test is designed to last only 45 minutes.
Murphy said the students can submit the essays, or answers, in a variety of ways — sending in a Word or Google document, or even taking pictures of a handwritten essay and uploading those.
“Officials have been adamant that the test will be no more difficult this year than any other year, while acknowledging that students normally do better on the multiple choice part,” Murphy said, “but the scoring adjusts for that.”
Because the AP exams will be essay-driven, scorers will employ anti-plagiarism software to catch cheaters who might “copy and paste” from other sources.
The state Department of Education has said it will abide by the AP transfer credits open to students who score a 3, 4 or 5 on the AP tests. Depending on the test result, students can earn college credits, Murphy said.
Class Night
In Monroe County, Class Night is one of the big events of a high schooler’s senior year. It’s when the students are honored for their academic achievement such as National Honor Society and scholarships are announced. That includes individual scholarships to specific institutions, the state’s Bright Futures scholarship program, and the Take Stock in Children scholarships, as well as the many local organizations that fundraise year-round to give Keys kids a leg up on the future.
At Marathon High School alone, the academic gifts can total about $500,000 — the lion’s share to Take Stock students who receive full tuition and, in some cases, housing.
With the pandemic touching every aspect of life in the Keys, there was some worry that the smaller organizations might not be able to participate this year. That’s false, Murphy said.
“I spoke to the high school principals last week and they said the scholarship situation is looking really good,” Murphy said. “We’ve seen very little slippage — I think Key West lost two scholarships, and Marathon lost one.”
Coral Shores High School and Marathon High School will broadcast Class Night on Tuesday, May 26, and Key West will broadcast on Wednesday, May 27. Yes, they will be broadcast, as will graduation.
Graduation
Like every year, the high school graduation ceremonies will be staggered over three nights, beginning with Coral Shores High School on Wednesday, May 27, Marathon High School on Thursday, May 28, and Key West High School on Friday, May 29. For the first time ever, there will be no physical handover of a jacketed diploma.
Murphy said the broadcast plans are still evolving. Schools will tailor their presentation to reflect their own traditions.
“For example, at Key West the school officers speak. In Marathon, the valedictorian and salutatorian address their peers, etc.,” he said.
There is also talk of in-person graduation ceremonies later in the summer.
