Advanced English and science classes will no longer be offered in Des Moines middle schools this year, a move that has some parents concerned that top performers won't be challenged.

McCoy is taking students who just learned English to the AP level. McCoy helped launch the school’s first Advanced Placement English course in 2016, one of two AP classes offered at Manhattan ...

Not only does the program help build practical language skills, but it also provides a sense of community, said Darlene Russell, Terry’s wife, who teaches the advanced English track.

It is worth noting that although the AP English courses are quite popular, they have relatively low pass rates compared to most other AP exams – pass meaning a score of 3 or better, below which ...

Students who are still learning English also have been denied access to advanced math classes in the past. “Some students get the message that those classes aren’t for them,” Hansen said.