FOLEY – The city of Foley recognized Foley High School students and teachers for being some of the best in the state in advanced placement courses.
The Foley City Council approved a resolution Monday, Jan. 28, honoring the school for receiving the School of Excellence Award from A+ College Ready and the Alabama Board of Education.
Foley High students had 258 qualifying scores in the last school year in rigorous examinations in 15 different advanced placement courses, including physics, calculus and literature. Mayor Ralph Hellmich said the number set a school record.
“We want to celebrate all of the successes that we can, especially in education. We have had tremendous success with Foley High School and our partnership with the Baldwin County Board of Education,” Hellmich said.
He said the resolution recognizes the efforts by students, teachers, administrators and the Baldwin County Board of Education.
We’re proud of this,” Hellmich said. “We’re going to continue to support our system and to make sure that our high school can be super successful.”
Foley High Principal Jessica Webb said the award reflects the joint efforts of teachers and students.
“We have, I think, the best staff at Foley high school,” Webb said. “It’s our teachers and our kids who put in the work. I’m so proud of them.”
Stan Shotts, assistant principal, said students achieved outstanding results.
“We had a school record 258 total passing scores, with many students achieving the highest score, which is a five. We partnered with A+ College Ready as part of a 3-year grant and we are integrating some pretty cool stuff in all of our classes. Every student with a passing score earned college credit as well as a gift card. Our school was awarded over $26,000 in gift cards. We are very excited to partner with them again this year and I know we will have many more students earn passing scores, college credits and gift cards.”
Eddie Tyler, Baldwin County superintendent of education, said the test results are some of the best that he has seen for Foley High School.
“I’ve never heard those scores coming out of Foley High School in the past,” Tyler said. “This is exciting and refreshing, and I know that they’re on a mission. That’s not going to stop here. They’re on a mission to be one of the best, of the best. And that’s going to put them in a category with all of our high schools that are really marching toward excellence.”
Nine high schools and middle schools in Alabama were named Schools of Excellence for 2024. Foley High School was the only school in the Mobile Bay region to achieve this distinction.
High schools were recognized for meeting or exceeding their individual course and school goals set by A+ College Ready for qualifying scores on the spring 2024 Advanced Placement exams by significantly increasing the number of AP qualifying scores.