Christina Wiggins lives for a challenge and has always pushed herself academically. She hopes to one day be a lawyer.

She received a three on the exit exam for the Advanced Placement history course she took in tenth grade, which earned her college credit. But when Wiggins went to sign up for the next AP history class in her course track, she was told her overall average was too low.

"It's not like I am asking to get into a higher-level course," Wiggins said. "I am asking to continue along the path I have already started."

The Auburn high school junior went before the board of education to plead her case, and they did more than listen.

High school principal David Roth has now created a program to help students in Wiggins' situation.

The district has developed a prerequisite standard across the board, which requires students have a 90 overall average and applies to all upper-level courses, including AP and enriched programs.

The challenge path can be used as a form of appeal by students who just miss the cut, allowing them a second chance at getting into a course.

"We are not shutting the door on students," Roth said. "Just providing them with a different opportunity to get in."

The challenge path requires students get a letter of recommendation from a teacher, submit their SAT and ACT scores, and write an essay designed by the department the student is trying to get into.

Though Wiggins said she'll take the challenge, she believes that students who were already enrolled in AP courses in the past should be grandfathered into the new program.

"I have been taking advanced and enriched courses for years," Wiggins said.

"Why should I have to prove I can do it now?"

In addition to tweaking their advanced programs, the district is looking into ways to increase the number of students graduating with Regents diplomas.

"We are trying to move a broader spectrum of students into our Regents programs," Plume said.

This summer, district officials will work on strengthening their academic intervention programs and come up with alternate courses for students to help support their strengths and interests.

Offering several Regents courses in each core subject will give students more options.

"We want students to challenge themselves and us to be able to supply the necessary support," Roth said.

Staff writer Ashley Lipsky can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 235 or ashley.lipsky@lee.net