AP European History will be offered at Park View High School next year, but it’s debut has not been without difficulties.

AP Euro is, as the name implies, an AP course based around European history, from roughly 1450 AD to the present. Historically, AP European history has not been offered in Loudoun County. “Our focus in social science has been more of a global perspective or a global focus, which is why we’ve been offering A.P. World History rather than focusing on a specific perspective,” said social studies teacher Nicole Spage.

Despite this precedent, the course is now being offered at Park View, due to the successful conclusion of a two-year old initiative. “Some freshman who were taking Pre-AP [world history] approached Ms. Monge about AP European, since they were very interested in a European centric course,” said Mrs. Spage. Junior Keivan Malhani was at the front and center of this push for the course, playing a large role in convincing other students to sign up for the class.

Additionally, there were some administrative difficulties involved with offering AP Euro this year. The LCPS social studies supervisor, William Brazier, was against offering the course, due to the county’s preference for universal or US perspectives on the past. While not entirely opposed to the idea, he needed proof of interest before accepting the course, even though Park View was already preparing to offer the course.

Additionally, there were some administrative difficulties involved with offering AP Euro this year. “We have a subjects supervisor, his name is [William] Brazier and he ultimately decides what the county is going to offer and what direction it should take,” said Mrs. Spage. Brazier was against offering the course, due to the county’s preference for universal or US perspectives on the past. While not entirely opposed to the idea, he needed proof of interest before accepting the course, even though Park View was already preparing to offer the course.

Despite technically being approved, when the time for course selections came around AP Euro was suspiciously absent from the list. At this point, Park View had already accepted the course, but administrators needed concrete numbers in order to fully approve the course within the school system. “We had not gotten the final approval from above our heads at the admin building, and [admin] turn[s] on those course selections not within a school but from up above,” said Mrs. Spage. Fifteen students needed to sign up for the course before it was finally confirmed on the administrative side, but students were unable to sign up before admin confirmed the course.

Eventually, Park View managed to improvise a solution, having interested students sign up with Park View’s Social Science Department Chair, Mrs. Spage. As of February 25th, enough students have been confirmed for the course to be offered next year, and Ms. Monge is excited to host the class.

“My goal is to get you ready for the exam, but also make it fun and interactive and something that you know well and want to get others to take,” said Ms. Monge.