AP Academy has difficulty in attracting applicants

Academically feeble Burke High School is struggling to attract the county's brightest students for its new, rigorous program.

The low-achieving downtown school will open an Advanced Placement Academy this fall, and fewer students have applied for the program than officials hoped. The AP Academy could enroll 100 students this fall, but thus far, only 27 have been accepted.

"We knew the first year would not be real easy," said school Principal Charles Benton. "We've been fortunate enough to get that first class. We've had some obstacles, but we're still excited about what we're planning to do."

The academy will be a school within Burke High, which means academy students will take their core academic classes together but mingle with the rest of the student body for their electives. Students will take honors classes their freshmen year and at least four Advanced Placement courses before they graduate. Students can earn college credit by scoring well on AP exams.

Read more in Saturday's edition of The Post and Courier.