Nine JCHS Students Are AP Scholars

By ALICIA MOORE

The College Board has released the 2018 AP School Scholar Roster, and it includes nine Jasper County High School students.

The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program (AP) 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 Exam. AP exams are scored on a five-point scale. A score of three or higher qualifies as a passing score. The College Board recognizes levels of achievement based on a student’s performance on AP Exams.

“AP Scholar” is awarded to students who receive scores of three or higher on three or more AP Exams. Four students who graduated in May 2018 earned this distinction. Callie Batson took five AP courses in high school and scored a three on three of the exams. Tanner Fletcher scored two threes and two four’s on his five AP exams. Meghan Terry earned a five and two threes on her five AP exams. Cole Usry took six AP courses in high school and earned two fours and two threes on his exams. As a junior, Cameron Snyder was also named an “AP Scholar,” earning this award with a score of five and two fours on three AP exams.

“AP Scholar with Honor” is awarded to a student who receives an average grade of at least 3.25 on all AP exams attempted and scores of three or higher on four or more of the exams. Three JCHS students earned this award. Madison Rae, who graduated in May, scored a five, two fours, and a three on the six AP exams taken in high school. Drew Schilling and America Strickland, now seniors at JCHS, also earned this award. Drew has taken five AP courses and scored a five, a four, and two threes on attempted exams. America has scored two fives, a four, and a three on her five AP exams.

“AP Scholar with Distinction” is awarded to a student who receives an average grade of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken and grades of three or higher on five or more of the exams. Alina Jablonski, who graduated in May, has been placed on this distinguished list of students. Alina attempted six AP courses in high school and scored fours and two threes on these exams.

JCHS has grown its AP program year after year with more diversified choices for students. Scores for 2018 clearly demonstrate the growth in the AP program with an increase from 28 percent in 2016 to 41 percent now of AP student exams with passing scores of three, four, or five. Courses including AP studio art 2-D and computer science principles provide students with an opportunity to earn advanced placement credit outside of the core subject areas. This year, JCHS has added AP Spanish to the list.