When Students Lead: ‘Pilot’ and the Power of Peer-Led Solutions - Carson's Advocacy Project

The A+ Student VOICES Team (SVT) is a group of passionate high school students dedicated to making a positive impact in their school communities. These student advocates work on various projects to address student needs and improve the education system for themselves and their peers. One member, Carson, has taken a significant step to ensure students have access to academic resources to help them succeed. 

Frustrated by the systemic shortcomings of his school system, where standardized test scores often lag behind state and national averages, Carson saw a gap that needed filling. According to recent data, only 56% of high school students from his school system attend college, and AP course access and pass rates remain alarmingly low. The root cause? A mix of underfunded schools, lack of advanced instruction, and few accessible test prep resources for students in lower-income households.

For families unable to afford tutoring, college entrance becomes a steep uphill climb. Carson created Pilot as an equalizer. "Too many students are just as smart and capable as anyone else. They just don’t have the tools," he says. “It's a response to the stark reality that students in wealthier districts are more likely to meet AP benchmarks compared to those in under-resourced systems. It’s about removing the barrier between potential and opportunity.”

Pilot is a free, student-built website that compiles and organizes SAT and AP prep content into a streamlined and easy-to-navigate platform. Inspired by Khan Academy, Kaplan, and Lumen Learning, it distills information from a variety of reputable sources into targeted, practical study tools.

Pilot includes unit-by-unit study guides for 15 AP courses; full-length practice tests for the SAT; condensed, high-yield review sheets and walkthroughs; and a clean, accessible design with no paywalls. Whether a student is taking AP U.S. History or gearing up for the Math section of the SAT, Pilot offers curated material that helps them study smarter, not harder.

Carson plans to continue updating and expanding Pilot through the summer and into the next school year. New features on the roadmap include interactive quizzes, self-assessments, and user-submitted study tips. His ultimate goal? Statewide adoption, starting with school counselors and teachers in his school system sharing Pilot with students who need it most.

Carson's Pilot Prep website can be accessed below: https://sites.google.com/view/pilotprep/home