Eleven GCS schools earned national recognition from College Board through its AP School Honor Roll program, which launched this month. The program celebrates schools that demonstrate a commitment to increasing college-going culture, providing opportunities for students to earn college credit and maximizing college readiness.  

To be selected for the AP School Honor Roll, schools must meet each of the following criteria for students in the most recent graduating class:

- College Culture: 40% or more of the graduating cohort took at least one Advanced Placement (AP) Exam during high school.
- College Credit: 25% or more of the graduating cohort scored a 3 or higher on at least one AP Exam during high school.
- College Optimization: 2% or more of the graduating cohort took five or more AP Exams during high school. At least one of those exams was taken in 9th or 10th grade, so students are spreading their AP experience across grades rather than feeling disproportionate pressure in any single year.  

GCS schools earned the following levels of recognition based on the percentage of achievement in each of the categories above:

- Platinum: STEM Early College at N.C. A&T, Early College at Guilford, Weaver Academy, Northwest High
- Gold: Page High, Western High, Grimsley High
- Silver: Southwest High, Northern High
- Bronze: Ragsdale High, Southeast High

“Our schools are committed to giving students every opportunity to succeed in college and beyond, and we are so proud of these schools for their focus on college readiness and college-level coursework through Advanced Placement,” says Dr. Anitra Wells, deputy superintendent of Instructional Leadership and Wellness.

Northern High, Northwest High, Southeast High, Southwest High, STEM Early College at N.C. A&T, Weaver Academy and Western High also received the AP Access Award, which recognizes schools that demonstrate a clear and effective commitment to equitable access to advanced coursework.