LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Walter G. O'Connell Copiague High
School upon the occasion of being named Advanced Placement District of
the Year

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend those institutions of true purpose and high achievement whose
exemplary programs and accomplishment clearly demonstrate an enduring
pursuit of excellence in the education of the youth of the Empire State;
and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
Walter G. O'Connell Copiague High School upon the occasion of being
named Advanced Placement District of the Year; and
WHEREAS, Walter G. O'Connell Copiague High School was named as one of
the nation's top three school districts in promoting college-level
achievement among ethnically and racially diverse high school students;
and
WHEREAS, The national award of Advanced Placement District of the Year
for Walter G. O'Connell Copiague High School was announced in an annual
report released by the Manhattan-based College Board; the nonprofit
agency sponsors Advanced Placement (AP) course curricula and exams,
which are at a college level; and
WHEREAS, Walter G. O'Connell Copiague High School's award was in the
small-district category; the awards recognize districts that broaden
their pool of students taking college-level AP courses, while also
increasing the percentages of students earning exam scores high enough
to qualify for college credit; and
WHEREAS, The College Board, in its annual AP Report to the Nation
announced that New York State has the second-highest rate of public high
school graduates who scored 3 or higher out of a possible 5 on AP exams;
in addition, more than 26 percent of New York's public high school grad-
uates in the Class of 2011 hit those marks, far exceeding the national
average of 18.1 percent; and
WHEREAS, Walter G. O'Connell Copiague High School is one of the most
diverse schools on Long Island; of its 1,480 students, about 40 percent
are Hispanic, 35 percent are African-American and 20 percent are Cauca-
sian; families in the community include a substantial number of immi-
grants from the Dominican Republic and Poland; and
WHEREAS, This exceptional district has made a concerted effort to
encourage students to think about college preparation at an early age;
in addition to bringing in college representatives and local alumni to
talk to the secondary students about the importance of a college educa-
tion, and the elementary students were all given T-shirts that bore the
words, "Who's going to college? I am."; and
WHEREAS, Over the past three years, Walter G. O'Connell Copiague High
School has made many significant achievements which include: raising the
number of students enrolled in AP courses from 140 to 185 students;
increasing the percentage of students earning AP test scores of 3 or
higher from 40 percent to 54 percent; and increasing the percentage of
minority students earning scores of 3 or higher from 31 percent to 50
percent; and
WHEREAS, It is only fitting that this Legislative Body extend its
highest commendation to the administration, teachers, staff and parents,
both past and present, of Walter G. O'Connell Copiague High School for
their dedication and commitment to the children, school and community in
the creation of a better world for the children of tomorrow; now, there-
fore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Walter G. O'Connell Copiague High School upon the occasion of
being named Advanced Placement District of the Year; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Charles A. Leunig, Superintendent, and Jeanette Altruda,
Principal, Walter G. O'Connell Copiague High School.