AP (Advanced Placement)

CCSD Students Increase AP Participation and Success, Earn International Honors

October 24, 2023  -- Cherokee County School District high school students last school year increased their participation and success in Advanced Placement college-level courses, earning international honors for their schools.

CCSD students last school year took 6,091 AP exams – an increase from 5,534 the previous year, and raised the overall average score to 3.4, up from 3.3, according to a new report from the College Board.  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, thereby avoiding college tuition payments for those classes.  The total value of the college tuition CCSD students will avoid paying due to last school year’s success, assuming each exam equals just one college course, is estimated at $4.6 million.  

The school district’s AP program has repeatedly earned state and national recognition for its comprehensive course catalog and high passage rate; CCSD high schools offer 33 different AP courses.

The College Board, which runs the international AP program, this month began the AP School Honor Roll awards to recognize schools for success in course participation and exam passage.

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).

Woodstock High School earned the award at the overall Silver level, with a Silver ranking for College Culture, Gold for College Credit and Platinum for College Optimization.  Creekview, Etowah and Sequoyah High Schools earned the award at the overall Bronze level, with all three also earning the same category rankings: Bronze for College Culture, Gold for College Credit and Platinum for College 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 Etowah HS achieved this honor.  To earn the award, the percentage of AP exam takers from an underrepresented minority and/or low-income household must mirror the school's overall student demographics. 

 

CCSD High Schools Earn Top State AP Honors

February 29, 2024-- Cherokee County School District’s high schools, for the 14th consecutive year, have earned the state’s top honors for outstanding Advanced Placement (AP) programs and performance, with CCSD earning a record number of awards.

All of CCSD’s high schools this week were named 2024 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.  

Students who achieve a 3 or higher (on a scale of 1 to 5) can qualify for college credit at most State colleges and universities, thereby avoiding college tuition payments for those classes.  CCSD students through AP course credit earn about $4 million a year in Georgia in-state college tuition, assuming each exam equals just one college course.  CCSD high schools offer 33 different AP courses.

Schools can achieve AP Honor School recognition in various categories based on participation and performance.  All six CCSD high schools again earned recognition as AP STEM and AP STEM Achievement Schools, and all six were named both AP Humanities and AP Humanities Achievement Schools — while some have earned the latter two honors in the past, this is the first year for a districtwide sweep.  Five schools – Creekview HS, Etowah HS, River Ridge HS, Sequoyah HS and Woodstock HS – additionally earned AP School of Distinction Honors.

CCSD AP HONOR SCHOOLS
• AP STEM Achievement Schools: All CCSD high schools
Students test in at least four AP STEM courses, and at least 50 percent of scores in those courses are 3 or higher. 

• AP STEM Schools: All CCSD high schools
Students test in at least four AP STEM courses (AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Statistics, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, AP Physics 1, AP Physics 2, AP Physics C, AP Computer Science A, AP Computer Science Principles).

• AP Humanities Achievement Schools: All CCSD high schools
Students test in at least one English Language Arts course, two social sciences courses, one fine arts course and one world language course; and at least 50 percent of those scores are 3 or higher.  

• AP Humanities Schools: All CCSD high schools
Students test in at least one English Language Arts course, two social sciences courses, one fine arts course and one world language course.  

• 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.