District 423 is among 10 Minnesota districts to be recognized for the 5th Annual National AP Honor Roll. The College Board AP District Honor Roll is formed with data from 34 AP tests for various subjects, and has been ongoing for five years.

AP classes are optional to high school students, allowing those who excel at a topic an opportunity for a challenge. After taking an AP class, students have the option of taking the AP test for that topic. Scores not only help schools with another source of data, but can also count toward college credit for students.At District 423, 313 students are currently enrolled in 10 AP classes, ranging from AP English to AP Music Theory. This is a jump from the past year, when 200 students were enrolled in AP classes.

“Teachers are becoming more confident. As kids read that confidence … they respond well to it,” Walsh said. “It is always the result of a lot of hard work and commitment. It is a covenant between students and teachers that we are signing up to work hard for each other.”

“While we take these high-rigor tests at the high school, the work is done throughout the district,” Daron VanderHeiden, District Superintendent said. “Hutchinson High School does not gain this type of AP result without a systemic emphasis on rigorous coursework (at all grade levels).”“It is inspiring for me to hear a new freshman describe which AP classes they plan to take,” Walsh said. “In two or three years I think we could see enrollment at 500. I really think we could.”