Atlantic Coast High School is earning plaudits on the national stage, having been spotlighted by the College Board for widening its student body's access to AP Precalculus. The Jacksonville-based high school made a decisive leap, cutting its honors-level precalculus course in favor of pitching a more inclusive tent for AP Precalculus, a move that's notably swung open doors to those who haven't always seen themselves reflected in the annals of advanced mathematics—specifically, Exceptional Student Education (ESE) and English language learners (ELLs).
For Principal Dr. Michael George, the transition is already paying off. "It’s absolutely amazing to watch kids who truly do not see themselves as math people change their minds," he told Duval County Public Schools. The school proudly boasts a diverse collective, with a roster representing upwards of 80 countries and 40 languages. It's this rich tapestry of backgrounds that made it especially crucial to adapt teaching methods to suit a broader church of learning styles. To this end, teachers at Atlantic Coast have been thoroughly priming to effectively ensure no student feels left in the academic lurch.
The evidence is not only anecdotal but also numerical. Atlantic Coast High has seen a significant spike in AP Precalculus enrollment, with a 56% increase in the 2024-25 academic year. Equally telling is the ballooning number of seniors participating in the course, and the nearly tripled enrollment among ESE students. AP Calculus AB has also enjoyed a 44% enrollment boost. In a display of academic might, a commanding 95% of students in the AP Precalculus course scored a 3 or higher on their AP Exam in 2024.
"For my kids who have never taken an AP—or even an honors-level—math class, this course can be a game changer," AP Precalculus teacher Laurie McDonald observed to Duval County Public Schools. And the words of the students themselves—those whose lives are being directly impacted by these educational shifts—resonate just as powerfully. "Just because it's difficult doesn't mean I can't do it," senior Sophia Simon shared, reflecting her journey from hope for a passing grade to securing solid Bs. Jasmin Lockett, another senior, underscored the importance of persistence and leveraging every learning opportunity that comes one's way.
