SALEM — It wasn't exactly a football rally. There were no cheerleaders with pompoms and no coaches exhorting the crowd.
But top school officials turned out yesterday to congratulate Salem High School students who signed up for academically challenging Advanced Placement courses this school year and to urge them to take advantage of special help offered under a three-year grant program.
The controversial grant also pays students and teachers for doing well on AP tests in science, math and English.
"I want to compliment you on stepping up and taking the initiative and challenging yourself," Salem High Principal Dave Angeramo said during a kickoff assembly at the school.
Salem Academy Charter School, which also receives grant funds, held its own assembly yesterday morning.
Both schools are in the first year of the program and have seen dramatic increases in the number of students enrolling in AP courses.
At Salem Charter, 43 students signed up, more than twice the number who took AP classes last school year.
"In fact," Salem Academy Executive Director Sean O'Neil said, "two-thirds of our 11th- and 12th-graders are taking AP courses."
At Salem High, the number of AP students skyrocketed from 86 last school year to 180.
"We're looking forward to what's going to happen next year," said Elise Frangos, director of English services for the grant program, Massachusetts Math & Science Initiative, which gets its largest funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Under the grant, students will receive $100 for each score of 3, 4 or 5 on an AP math, science or English test, and teachers will get $100 for each student who scores a 3 or better. Teachers are also eligible for additional funds. AP scores range from 1-5.
The AP tests are given in May.
Teachers unions have filed grievances over the pay issue. The Salem Teachers Union has been in talks with Superintendent William Cameron about it, and the Peabody Federation of Teachers is poised to file a grievance once financial payments are made. This is Peabody's second year in the program.
One school official said the money is not a motivating factor for students.
"I don't think so," O'Neil said. "As a matter of fact, they sort of laugh about that."
Traditionally, students have taken the course for the academic challenge and because some colleges give credits for high AP scores.
Peabody High, which will hold its AP kickoff event tomorrow, has seen enrollment in AP courses triple.
"This is a program that has transformed our school," said George Hyatt, science department chairman at Peabody High. He attended the Salem High event yesterday.
The grant provides assistance for teachers and also funds Saturday prep sessions for students.
This Saturday, students from Salem High, Peabody High and Salem Charter will head to Merrimack College in North Andover for an English AP study session.
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