Allegany County Public Schools would like to recognize those seniors achieving the Seal of Biliteracy for English and a world language. These students achieved an “Intermediate High'' or “Advanced '' level of proficiency in another language, as determined by Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL) exam.

The AAPPL is a web-based proficiency and performance assessment of K-12 standards-based language learning. It evaluates language ability through interpersonal listening and speaking, presentational writing, and interpretive reading and interpretive listening.

The Maryland Seal of Biliteracy is a program that recognizes public high school graduates for attaining proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing in one or more languages, in addition to English. Recognition of these skills is shown by affixing a Seal of Biliteracy to the students’ diploma or transcript at graduation.

For the 2022-2023 school year, ACPS recognized nine seniors, from Allegany High School and Mountain Ridge High School, who earned their Maryland Seal of Biliteracy. Students from Allegany High School include: Hannah Apedo – French and Chase McKenzie – Japanese. Students from Mountain Ridge High School include: Cierra Cooper – Spanish, Mary Delaney – Spanish, Eliza Duncan – Spanish, Morgan Felker-Lewis – Spanish, Emma Komatz – Spanish, and Claire Raesly – Spanish.

Mountain Ridge High School also had one foreign exchange student, Clemente Diez Leiva, who earned the Global Seal of Biliteracy in his first language, Spanish, and English as his second language. The Global Seal of Biliteracy is currently available internationally to those individuals who meet designated testing requirements.

“The Seal of Biliteracy designation is attractive to college admission departments, and in an interdependent global society, it also makes students more marketable in the workforce,” says Kathryn Buskirk, Supervisor of English Language Arts, Reading, and World Languages. “ACPS is proud of our world language students who have worked diligently to achieve this honor.”