Dynamic duo achieves 100% pass rate for math students


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KAYSVILLE — It’s one thing to pass Advanced Placement calculus or statistics in high school. It’s another thing when every single student who takes the classes gets a passing score. One Utah school is seeing those results and it’s nothing short of heroic.

Two teachers at Davis High School have a 100 percent pass rate in their AP calculus and statistics classes. They’ve helped students earn thousands of dollars worth of college credits in high school. They’re heroes — you could even say superheroes.

Some teams protect the world; other teams do something even tougher. For AP calculus teacher Tracey Meade, her job is a big deal.

“We’re getting close to 300 kids through calculus every year," Meade said. "It’s amazing.”

For Meade’s colleague Kimberlee Call, she says it all started with a goal.

“It’s a department goal," Call said. "We’re trying to get them to reach the very highest level that they can.”

The positive feedback from these teachers is helping their students not only academically, but mentally too. That’s how Nicolas Williams feels about it.


I've had to encourage them, 'It's OK for it to be hard and I will help you and we will get there.'

–AP calculus teacher Tracey Meade


“There’s no question whether I’m going to pass or not,” Williams said.

The students are told if they listen to their teachers, they will succeed, and Kimberlee Call says they are seeing that. “It’s an almost guaranteed pass rate.”

The students say Meade and Call bring real world reality into math and one says knowing they care helps too.

“She’s here almost every single day after school helping us out,” McGyver Clark said about Meade.

It’s also an observation shared by fellow Davis High student Indiana Jones. Yes, there is a McGyver and Indiana Jones in Meade’s AP calculus class. With names like that no wonder they’re taking the math world by storm.

But it’s not always easy. Both teachers say there have been some tears along the way and Meade constantly sends out positive encouragement.

“I’ve had to encourage them, 'It’s OK for it to be hard and I will help you and we will get there,'" Meade said.

Almost as impressive as the pass rate are the reviews. Students like Sam Sargent seem to forget this is AP calculus, after all — “I enjoy seeing her up there because she always makes it so fun," Sam said.

There really is something to the team of superhero teachers because Davis High School has the highest pass rate of all AP classes in the state.

Meade and Call say they couldn’t do their jobs without their entire math team at Davis High. They say the other team members are vital to helping the students build a strong foundation in math.

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Nadine Wimmer

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