SIS named to Advanced Placement School Honor Roll

The College Board announced that Saipan International School has been named to the Advanced Placement Program School Honor Roll, earning Gold distinction.

The AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools whose AP programs are delivering results for students while broadening access. Schools can earn this recognition annually based on criteria that reflect a commitment to increasing college-going culture, providing opportunities for students to earn college credit, and maximizing college readiness.

SIS had 80% of seniors who took at least one AP exam during high school, 50% of seniors scoring a three or higher on at least one AP exam, and 15% of seniors who took five or more AP exams.

A total of 23 SIS students took at least one AP exam and they are the following: Aubrey Ricci Castro, Audrey Lizbeth Castro, Mark Chavez, Hyun Min Chung, Serin Chung, Olivia Hwang, Hero Jeon, Kevin Kim, Minseong Kim, Stephanie Kim, Li Sha Lai, Seohee Lee, Lian Qi Li, Hui Qiao Lin (Lynn Ivy), John Linden, I Hou Loi, Parveen Mingefiiy, Claire Sohyun Park, Yelin Park, Yebin Shin, Jeremy Yoon, Tony Li, and Angel Li.

SIS offers 15 Advanced Placement courses, the highest number in the CNMI. “The mission of SIS is to help each child reach his or her full potential,” said Dr. Ron Snyder, SIS headmaster. “We have committed fully to the Advanced Placement program as a way of helping our high school students reach their potential to have the best possible career and college preparation at school.”

“AP represents an opportunity for students to stand out to colleges, earn college credit and placement, and potentially boost their grade point averages,” said Trevor Packer, head of the AP program. “The schools have shown that they can expand access to these college-level courses and still drive high performance— they represent the best of our AP program.”

SIS was founded in 1994 and this year marks its 30th year anniversary. SIS serves a very diverse student body for students in K-12. At the primary level, its program focusses on literacy skills and socioemotional development. Beginning in grade one, all SIS students undertake a study of Mandarin Chinese as part of its core instruction. In secondary school, students embark on a highly rigorous, university-preparatory program that has seen great success. Despite its small student body, SIS students have been highly successful, leading the CNMI in number of AP Scholars and AP Capstone Diploma recipients.

The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program enables students to pursue college-level studies—with the opportunity to earn college credit, advanced placement, or both—while still in high school. Through AP courses in 38 subjects, each culminating in a challenging exam, students learn to think critically, construct solid arguments, and see many sides of an issue—skills that prepare them for college and beyond. (PR)