The Hudson School Board received an extensive academic progress report at its most recent meeting, offering a wide-ranging look at student performance across the district during the 2025–2026 school year. Much of the discussion centered on Advanced Placement (AP) exam results, where administrators say students made some of the strongest gains the district has seen in several years.
Dean of Academics Dan Pooler presented the AP data to the Board, noting that the district has been working intentionally to strengthen AP instruction and expand opportunities for students to take college level coursework. He said the latest results show that those efforts are paying off. “I’m really excited about these,” Pooler told the Board as he began outlining the numbers.
According to Pooler, Alvirne High School students improved AP proficiency by 12 percentage points from the 2025 testing period to 2026. During the most recent cycle, 89% of students scored a three or above, the threshold considered proficient for AP coursework. “Last year we had 77,” Pooler said. “I am happy to report 89% of students who took the test scored a three or above this year on the AP exams, so that is a huge success in our AP programs that is growing.”
The improvement marks a significant turnaround from the years immediately following the pandemic, when AP proficiency rates dropped sharply. In 2022, 79% of AP test takers earned a proficient score. That number fell to 65% in 2023 and dipped again to 63% in 2024. Pooler said the rebound seen in 2026 represents not only student effort but also targeted instructional changes made by teachers across multiple departments.
A total of 103 students took AP exams last year, and 92 of them earned a score of three or higher on at least one test. Pooler noted that students’ participation varied widely, with some taking a single AP exam and others taking as many as five. He said the breadth of participation shows that more students are challenging themselves academically and taking advantage of the opportunities available.
Pooler highlighted several areas of exceptional growth, including AP Calculus and AP PreCalculus, where 100% of students scored a three or better. He said the district also saw increases in proficiency in statistics, biology, chemistry, English Literature, U.S. Government and Politics, and U.S. History, reflecting improvements across both STEM and humanities courses.
In several subjects, Alvirne students outperformed statewide averages. Pooler said the district exceeded state proficiency rates in calculus, precalculus, chemistry, English Literature, psychology, U.S. Government, and U.S. History, noting that these results demonstrate strong instruction and student engagement. “We have a lot of success in our APs,” Pooler said, adding that teachers continue to refine course delivery to support students as they prepare for the exams.
Pooler told the Board that the district is encouraged by the upward trend and is focused on sustaining and expanding that progress. He said ongoing work in curriculum alignment, instructional strategies, and student support will remain priorities as the district prepares for the next AP testing cycle. “We are on a good trend with our AP courses,” he said.
Board members thanked Pooler for the detailed report and acknowledged the work of teachers and students in achieving the improved results. The presentation was part of a broader academic update that will continue throughout the fall as the district reviews performance data from the previous school year.
