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On April 5, 2018 during the regular Thursday, Noon meeting of the Rotary Club of McHenry at the McHenry VFW, the Rotary Club of McHenry Charitable Foundation, Inc. presented the McHenry High School District 156 with a check for $4,081 to help finance the cost of Advanced Placement Tests for 58 students in School District 156 (who are taking 93 AP tests); these students also qualify for free/reduced lunch. This may save students approximately $209,000 is college cost.
Beginning with the 2016-17 school year, Illinois colleges and universities must provide course credit to students who score at least a 3 on an AP exam, according to a bill signed into law in 2015.
Based on actual 2017 McHenry AP scores, School District 156 families saved approximately $402,910 in tuition costs because students took and passed AP tests. Here is a separate example of why these savings take place: The average annual in-state four-year college tuition in Illinois was $22,453 for the 2016-2017 academic year. If the students taking 93 tests score a 3 or higher on their AP test, such high school students could earn 3 college credit hours for each test. Assuming an average student takes 15 college credit hours during a typical college semester (or 30 credit hours per year (15 x 2)) and the average college tuition per year is $22,453, then our $4,081 donation (funding the balance for 93 tests) could help to fund the equivalent of approximately 279 college credit hours (or 9.3 years of full time college) otherwise costing students approximately $209,000. Note: if the students go to more expensive schools, the cost savings would be higher and such financial savings are dependent upon student performance on each AP Test. These are just approximate numbers, but they illustrate that the AP program can greatly benefit qualified students.
Our focus is on maximizing the benefit to our youth who have potential that they might not otherwise achieve but for financial reasons. This is good for our youth and our shared community.
The largest fundraiser of the Rotary Club of McHenry Charitable Foundation, Inc. is Blues, Brews and Barbecue (which is scheduled at Petersen Park on Friday, Saturday and Sunday - August 17, 18, and 19, 2018).
Pictured below from left to right are: Terry Fitzgibbons (Club Member and McHenry High School West Campus Associate Principal), Denis Buch (Club President), Marsha Potthoff (McHenry High School West Campus Principal), Matt Borst (McHenry High School Senior and frequent taker of AP Courses and AP Tests), and Tom Webb (Club Youth Services Chair, Co-Chair of the Club Scholarship Committee and Vice-Chair of the Rotary Club of McHenry Charitable Foundation, Inc.)
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