By Kathryn Purcell
Managing Editor

The end of the semester always seems to bring good and bad. School is almost out for the summer but, to get there, students nationwide must endure a vast amount of end-of-the-year testing.
Morgan County High School is no exception. In fact, the school will have at least two tests going on throughout the day each day until the end of the semester arrives on Friday, May 23.
The tests stem from an increasing amount of students in various school programs as well as state and national requirements, from the Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) programs to the Georgia High School Graduation Test (GHSGT) required by the No Child Left Behind Act.
This semester, according to Assistant Principal Pat Lemming, the school has 191 students of all grade levels taking 243 AP exams. Within the IB program, 43 seniors, 17 of which are candidates for IB diplomas, as well as 68 juniors will be taking a total of 159 IB tests at the Morgan County Library.
Teachers at the school will also have to administer 1,925 End of Course Tests (EOCTs), mandated by the Georgia Department of Education to count for 15 percent of students' grades. EOCTs are given in eight areas -- ninth grade English, 11th grade English, Physical Science, Biology, Algebra I, Geometry, United States History and Economics.
Further, GHSGTs are given to seniors in the areas of English and Math. Part of the No Child Left Behind Act, the results of this tests are used to measure the school's Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP).
Lemming remembers that just three years ago Morgan County High School gave about 30 AP exams, the IB program was just beginning and EOCTs were starting to be phased in.
"It used to be only the Graduation Test and a handful of AP exams," Lemming said.
Why the seemingly sudden onslaught of tests, then?
"Partially because of the No Child Left Behind legislation," Lemming said, "and the state of Georgia trying to show that a high school diploma is worth what it's worth."
With the AP and IB programs, however, the increase in tests is a result of the school's open policy towards these programs.
"We're offering additional programs for our students," Lemming said. "It's totally open access; any students can attempt any program."
It would appear that more students have accepted the challenge, increasing the number of AP and IB exams given at the school.
Lemming also points out that, in an effort to give students every opportunity possible, the school also gives the SAT and ACT twice a year, and the ASVAB and ASSET once a year.
For more information on testing at Morgan County High School, contact Lemming at 706.342.2336, Extension 19.

Morgan County High School Testing Calendar
• Monday, May 5: AP Government, IB English Paper 1, IB Psychology Paper 1
• Tuesday, May 6: AP Statistics, IB Psychology Paper 2, IB History Papers 1 and 2
• Wednesday, May 7: AP Calculus, IB History Paper 3, IB Math Studies Paper 1
• Thursday, May 8: AP Literature, IB Math Studies Paper 2
• Friday, May 9: AP U.S. History, AP Art Portfolios, AP European History
• Monday, May 12: AP Biology, IB English Paper 2
• Tuesday, May 13: AP Chemistry, IB Spanish Papers 1 and 2
• Wednesday, May 14: AP English Language, IB Environmental Studies Papers 1 and 2, Senior Exams
• Thursday, May 15: IB Environmental Studies Paper 3, Senior Exams
• Friday, May 16: AP Geography, IB French Papers 1 and 2
• Monday, May 19: Senior Exams, Sophomore Exams, Freshman Exams
• Tuesday, May 20: IB Music, IB Physics Papers 1 and 2, Senior Exams, Sophomore Exams, Freshman Exams
• Wednesday, May 21: IB Physics Paper 3, AP Music Theory Make-up Exam, Senior Make-up Exams, Junior Exams, Sophomore Exams, Freshman Exams and English EOCT
• Thursday, May 22: AP U.S. History Make-up Exam, Junior Exams and U.S. History EOCT, Sophomore Exams and Algebra I or Geometry EOCT, Freshman Exams and Algebra I or Geometry EOCT
• Friday, May 23: Junior Exams and English EOCT, Sophomore Exams and Biology EOCT, Freshman Exams and Physical Science or Biology EOCT