AP (Advanced Placement)
CCSD Increases AP Pass Rate to Record High, Exceeds State and Nation
Cherokee County School District high school students have increased their success in college-level courses to a new record high!
More CCSD students passed Advanced Placement (AP) exams, which earn them college credit at most state colleges and universities, with the rate increasing to 85.1% this past spring, up from 82.8% the previous year, according to newly released results. It’s the highest pass rate ever for the school district, ranks CCSD second in metro Atlanta, and continues to exceed state and national averages.
“We’re so proud of our students’ success and the professional expertise and dedication of our teachers. This success is further evidence of our commitment to being the highest-performing school district in Georgia,” Superintendent of Schools Mary Elizabeth Davis said. “Our School Board is laser focused on ensuring our students are learning more, growing more, and achieving more in our classrooms than they could anywhere else and our strong offering of AP courses in a wide variety of subjects helps achieve this goal.”
Students must earn a 3 or higher (on a scale of 1 to 5) to pass and potentially earn college credit and avoid college tuition payments for those classes, and the average score in CCSD is 3.6. CCSD’s passage rate exceeds both state and national averages, with Georgia ranking 16th in the nation with a 24.9% passing rate.
In addition to the potential to earn college credit, advanced placement in college courses, or both, the Georgia Department of Education reports that evidence shows students benefit academically from taking AP courses and exams regardless of their exam scores.
While increasing participation with students new to this level of rigor could lead to a decrease in the passage rate, the passage rate instead has increased in CCSD. Last school year, 7,797 AP tests were administered to CCSD high school students, a 12% increase from 6,963 exams the prior year, and the number of students taking those tests also grew to 3,389 up from 3,106.
The total value of the college tuition CCSD students will avoid paying due to this success, assuming each exam equals just one college course, is estimated at $7.2 million, up from $6.1 million.
The school district’s AP program additionally earns state recognition annually for its comprehensive course catalog and high passage rate; CCSD high schools offer 32 different AP courses.
#CCSDElevateTheExcellence
AP Report from December 12, 2024 School Board Meeting (PDF)
News Release: CCSD Students Increase AP Success, Earn International Honors
Cherokee County School District high school students have increased their success in college-level courses, earning international honors for their schools.
CCSD students raised their overall Advanced Placement (AP) exam average score to 3.6, up from 3.4, this past spring, according to a new report from the College Board, while also increasing participation, with 6,955 exams completed, up from 6,091.
Over the past three years, the number of CCSD students taking AP courses and exams has increased by 400. While increasing participation with students new to this level of rigor could lead to a decrease in the passage rate, the passage rate instead has increased in CCSD.
Students who earn a 3 or higher (on a scale of 1 to 5) on an AP exam can qualify for college credit at most state colleges and universities -- avoiding college tuition payments for those classes.
Eighty-two percent of CCSD’s exam scores were a 3 or higher – the highest pass rate ever for the school district, up from 78%. The total value of the college tuition CCSD students will avoid paying due to this success, assuming each exam equals just one college course, is estimated at $6.1 million, up from $4.6 million.
The school district’s AP program annually earns state recognition for its comprehensive course catalog and high passage rate; CCSD high schools offer 33 different AP courses.
“Passage of AP exams demonstrates our students are well prepared for rigorous courses at college and saves them and their families money on college tuition. We’re so proud of our students’ success and the professional expertise and dedication of our teachers,” Superintendent of Schools Mary Elizabeth Davis said. “Thank you to our School Board for investing in our AP program to provide our students with challenging advanced academics, world languages and fine arts learning opportunities.”
The College Board, which administers the international AP program, presents AP School Honor Roll awards to schools in recognition of student success and participation.
To earn the honor, 40% of a school’s graduating class must take at least one AP course (College Culture), 25% of test-takers must earn a 3 or higher on each exam (College Credit) and 2% of students must take five or more AP courses during their high school career, with at least one in ninth or 10th grade (College Optimization).
Etowah, Sequoyah and Woodstock High Schools all earned the award at the overall Silver level. Creekview and River Ridge High Schools earned the award at the overall Bronze level.
In individual areas, four high schools – Creekview, Etowah, Sequoyah and Woodstock – earned Platinum, the highest honor, for College Optimization and Gold for College Credit, with Cherokee HS and River Ridge HS earning Gold for Optimization.
Schools on the AP School Honor Roll also may earn the AP Access Award, which honors their commitment to providing all students access to advanced coursework, and Creekview and Etowah High Schools achieved this honor. To earn the award, the percentage of AP exam takers from underrepresented minority and/or low-income households must mirror the school’s overall student demographics.
The School Board received a report focused on CCSD’s AP successes at Thursday’s work session. The full report is linked at the top of this webpage.
#CCSDElevateTheExcellence
CCSD High Schools Earn Top State AP Honors
February 28, 2025-- Cherokee County School District’s high schools have earned the state’s top honors for outstanding Advanced Placement programs and performance!
All six of CCSD’s traditional high schools today were named 2025 AP Honor Schools for exceptional student performance and participation on AP exams, which offer students more challenging coursework and the opportunity to earn college credit.
Schools can achieve recognition in various categories based on participation and performance. All six CCSD traditional high schools again earned recognition as AP STEM and AP STEM Achievement Schools, and as AP Humanities and AP Humanities Achievement Schools. Five schools – Creekview HS, Etowah HS, River Ridge HS, Sequoyah HS and Woodstock HS – additionally earned AP School of Distinction Honors.
Students who achieve a 3 or higher (on a scale of 1 to 5) can qualify for college credit at most Georgia state colleges and universities, thereby avoiding college tuition payments for those classes. CCSD students raised their overall AP exam average score to 3.6, up from 3.4, this past spring, while also increasing participation. Eighty-two percent of CCSD’s exam scores were a 3 or higher – the highest pass rate ever for the school district, up from 78%. The total value of the college tuition CCSD students will avoid paying due to this success, assuming each exam equals just one college course, is estimated at $6.1 million, up from $4.6 million. CCSD high schools offer 33 different AP courses.
Thank you to our AP teachers for their unparalleled talent and unmatched dedication and thank you to our School Board for its continued investment in advanced academics. Our students are learning more, growing more and achieving more in our classrooms!
CCSD AP HONOR SCHOOLS
• AP STEM Achievement Schools: All CCSD high schools
AP STEM Schools with at least 50 percent of AP exam scores at 3 or higher.
• AP STEM Schools: All CCSD high schools
Schools administer at least five AP exams in each of four separate AP STEM courses (math, science, and computer science) with at least 25 exams administered.
• AP Humanities Achievement Schools: All CCSD high schools
AP Humanities Schools with at least 50 percent of AP exam scores at 3 or higher.
• AP Humanities Schools: All CCSD high schools
Schools administer at least five AP exams in each of the following AP categories: one ELA course, two social studies courses, one fine arts course, and one world language course, with at least 25 exams administered.
• AP Schools of Distinction: Creekview HS, Etowah HS, River Ridge HS, Sequoyah HS and Woodstock HS
At least 20 percent of students take AP exams and at least 50 percent of those students earn scores of 3 or higher.