In the BCPS Master Plan, Dr. Hairston set a standard to increase rigorous instruction and student access to rigor by requiring all high schools to offer at least 12 AP course offerings.   Many high schools have already surpassed the projected standard and each high school is expected to meet or exceed the standard by 2009-2010.

For many years, Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) and the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) have maintained a partnership to increase a seamless rigorous curriculum from middle to high school as students transition to college.   Most recently, the partnership includes strong connections with the STEM program at Chesapeake High School as well as programs to increase training opportunities for BCPS work force and youth in the field of career and technology.  

There are additional college preparatory initiatives that continue.  In 2005, Dr. Hairston funded PSAT so that each grade 9 and grade 10 student could take the PSAT; thereby increasing all students’ access to the possibility of college.   In August 2007, the Gateway College Preparatory project, an expanded college partnership between BCPS and Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) began. This Superintendent’s initiative is designed to give grade 8 students in designated middle schools exposure to a college environment by a one day visit to CCBC.  Students will interact with college professors and college students.  BCPS “college readiness” grade 10 students take the Accuplacer assessment, a tool which measures whether a student is on the academic track for high school rigorous courses for college success. BCPS high schools offer coach classes, PSAT/SAT preparation classes, Parallel Enrollment Program, Dual College Enrollment, and SAT online. 

SAT online improves students’ performances with practice tests and response explanations. (See the College Board website, www.collegeboard.com/coursedemo, for a free demonstration of the SAT online course.) In addition to take a practice test online, go to www.satonlinecourseschool.com.