High school is a formative time in everyone's lives. It's where friends are made, lessons learned and students are prepared for the future. However, not all high schools prepare students the same way. Lisbon, Iowa, a town with a population of 2, 493. Less than two miles away is Mount Vernon, Iowa, a town with a population of 4,451. For many districts such as these, their ability to prepare students depends on staffing, location, funding and the number of students enrolled. 

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High schools focused on preparing students for the future help contribute to students' success later in their post-secondary education. There are many resources high schools can use to help prepare students for post-secondary education.

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Listen below to hear more about resources high schools can partner with

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One resource high schools could offer is the Advanced Placement (AP) program. 

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According to the College Board, the College Board is a mission-not-for-profit organization that connects students to college success and opportunity. The College Board website states, "The AP Program offers college-level courses and exams that you [students] can take in high school." 

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The College Board identified the many benefits of these courses, such as earning college credit in high school, saving money and time, standing out to colleges, and keeping options open. The AP Program gives students more flexibility in post-secondary education because students have the potential to earn transferable college credit in high school. 

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Mount Vernon high school's guidance counselor, Brett Karkosh, said Mount Vernon offers five AP courses to students and has 50 students enrolled. A benefit Mount Vernon sees from the AP program is that it helps students stand out on their college applications. 

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"I think AP coursework does help someone stand out especially if they're getting a good grade, and they have transfer credit," Karkosh said. 

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Lisbon offers one AP course to students, AP Literature and Composition, and has three students enrolled. J'nee Reade is the instructor of that course. The benefit Reade sees of AP classes is helping students gain analysis, critical thinking and time management skills. 

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Small schools can be limited in their course offerings because there is a smaller number of full-time staff. Running a successful AP program requires staff to be certified to teach the courses, administer tests, and attend extra training. 

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At Lisbon, only offering one AP class requires only one instructor to dedicate more time outside of the classroom to meet the College Board requirements. Lisbon High School guidance Counselor Christina Meierotto said offering the AP class at Lisbon isn't very time consuming. However, if Lisbon decided to offer more AP classes, then the time commitment would increase. 

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"I think to consider if we're going to add more AP courses that we would have to consider the extra time put into that," Meierotto said. 

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Having a successful AP program starts with the teachers. Teachers who are more passionate about their subject are more likely to pursue further certifications within the classroom. AP programs allow teachers to explore topics more in depth with students. 

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"I think you start with the teachers. They are the most important part of running the school and when you have teachers who are really passionate about their subject area at the high school level you start with them and it's not about taking away course offerings," Karkosh said. "It's about access and having an avenue for students to take AP courses if that's what their interest is. I think that is more important than just having it at the school so access to education and access to higher level course work is important."

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High schools that are smaller often have limited AP course offerings due to lack of interest from smaller student populations. Mount Vernon can offer more AP courses to students due to higher interest, while Lisbon can only offer one because of a lack of interest from students.

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The limited course offerings at smaller schools can affect students' success in their post-secondary education. 

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"Students that don't take AP may have a harder time of understanding what the coursework at the college level is going to feel like," Karkosh said. "I think it's going to hurt them as far as knowing how much assessments are valued at the college level as well." 

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While many colleges value AP coursework, not having access to AP courses in high school does not hurt students' opportunity to be accepted into college. 

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"I think anything students can do to challenge the way they learn is going to be helpful to them as they come into college," said Matt Heinze, Assistant Director, Outreach and Recruitment, at the University of Iowa. 

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See the video below to learn more about the University of Iowa's admission process and resources for prospective students