Mars Area High School is in its third year of a partnership with National Math + Science Initiative (NMSI).

NMSI, a non-profit organization, offers a College Readiness Program that has been proven to dramatically increase the number of students taking and earning qualifying scores on AP English math and science exams and to increase access to traditionally underrepresented students.

Mars Area High School offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses in Biology, Calculus, Chemistry, Computer Science A, Computer Science Principles, English Language, English Literature, European History, French, German, Physics I, Physics II, Spanish and United States History.

During the 2018-2019 School Year, 220 students were enrolled in AP (Advanced Placement) courses offered at Mars Area High School and took more than 362 AP exams. Of those students, 75 percent earned a qualifying exam score of 3, 4, or 5, which may qualify students for credit at many colleges and universities. 

Approximately 40 percent of students in Mars Area High School’s Class of 2019 earned a score of 3 or higher on at least one AP Exam taken during their high school career. In addition, 51 students qualified as different levels of AP scholars with one student qualifying for an AP national honor.

NMSI includes at least three (3) AP extracurricular study sessions for English, mathematics and science, which are typically held on Saturdays and are led by state and national AP experts while the students’ classroom teachers observe. All NMSI Study Dates are listed on the District’s calendar.

Through the NMSI partnership, schools receive funding for equipment and supplies and students typically receive half off the cost of the AP exam fee from NMSI or the school district.

 The District’s partnership with NMSI will continue through the current School Year. For more information, visit www.nms.org.