College Board’s newly released Advanced Placement Scholar Roster includes 236 Bartow County School System students earning 346 awards – yet again, the highest numbers ever recorded in Bartow County!
College Board’s AP program provides motivated and academically prepared students with the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses while still in high school. Students can earn college credit, advanced placement, or both for successful performance on the AP exams administered in high schools.
College Board recognizes three levels of achievement based on student performance and AP exams. The highest level of academic honor is AP Scholar with Distinction, followed by AP Scholar with Honor, and AP Scholar. College Board also recognizes students who complete the AP Capstone Diploma Program and earn an AP Seminar and Research Certificate.
Forty-five students qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award by earning an average score of 3.5 or higher on all AP exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.
Twenty-nine students received the AP Scholar with Honor Award after earning an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams.
One hundred and ninety-one students earned the AP Scholar Award by earning a score of 3 or higher on three or more AP exams.
Forty-eight students countywide completed the AP Capstone Diploma Program. AP Capstone is not a course. It is a two-year program based on two AP courses – AP Seminar and AP Research. It focuses on helping students advance academic skills in the areas of critical thinking, collaboration, public speaking, and conducting research.
Thirty-three Bartow County students received their AP Seminar and Research certificate. In AP Seminar, students investigate topics in a variety of subject areas, write research-based essays, and design and give presentations. In AP Research, students conduct a year-long investigation to address a specific research question.
“We are pleased to also recognize Bartow County School System AP Teachers of Distinction, and new this year, AP Teachers of Distinction with Honor,” said Paula Camp, Director of Advanced Learning, STEM, and Gifted programs. “Their rigorous classroom instruction and support is instrumental to the success of these intellectually gifted students. With our AP Teachers of Distinction, more than 80 percent of their AP students took the AP exams, and of those, more than half scored a three or higher on them. AP Teachers of Distinction with Honor have a 90 percent participation rate, and more than 70 percent of their students scored a 3 or higher on the AP exams. I am astonished by the growth we have seen with our AP program over the last six years. More and more students every year are developing important skills that are crucial for success in college, such as critical thinking, time management, and independent study. I am so proud of our students’ commitment to achieve at the highest level.”