World class

Brainerd High School students not only surpassed other students in the state, but also in the world in their advanced placement tests, school officials said.

Steve Razidlo, high school principal, reported tests results Monday to the Brainerd School Board and had nothing but good things to say about the students' scores.

On average 71 percent of the Brainerd students scored in the top three or higher spots on the tests. These tests are graded on a five-point scale with five meaning extremely well qualified; four well qualified; three qualified; two possibly qualified; and one no recommendation or the student would receive no credits at a college level.

Receiving a three on an advanced placement exam is equal to a college course grade B at most institutions.

The average number of students in the world who scored in the top three spots or higher is 63.9 percent while in the state it's 62.1 percent.

Razidlo said what makes the district unique from other districts is that it offers the advanced placement tests to all students who take the advanced placement course.

"It is one of our greatest success stories is to let everyone be involved," he said. "Other schools will only allow its brightest students to test. We test everyone and in other schools students may be in the classrooms, but do not test.

"And every year the number of students who participate gets larger."

In 2000, all the advanced placement students in art history, German, government composition, music theory and physics courses received a score of three or higher on their test scores.

The number of advanced placement tests has been increasing since 1985 when six tests were taken. In 1999, 511 tests taken by a total of 272 students.