The Houston Independent School District is contacting more than 1,000 recent graduates who qualify to win a brand new car at the upcoming second annual Cool to Be Smart celebration on Aug. 5.
The purpose of this annual event is to encourage and recognize scholars who completed five or more Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses or a combination of both and took the corresponding exams. Students who score high enough on these exams are eligible to earn college credits. Click here to watch a video and read about last year’s inaugural Cool to Be Smart event.
“In HISD, not only have we raised the standards and rigor for all our students, we also celebrate their hard work and achievements,” Superintendent Terry Grier said. “Cool to Be Smart recognizes students who challenged themselves academically by completing college-level coursework. I am so proud that more and more students in HISD are taking these courses and earning college credit during high school.”
The number of AP exams taken by HISD students that resulted in scores high enough to earn college credit has increased 35 percent since 2009. All HISD high schools currently offer at least 15 AP courses.
HISD staff will be calling all of the qualifying Class of 2012 students from more than 40 high schools in July to ensure they are present to enter the drawing and win prizes. These recent graduates will also receive an official invitation by mail.
The grand prize, a new 2012 Dodge Caliber, was donated by Helfman River Oaks Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram.