Sixty students at Mercy High School earned Advanced Placement Scholar Awards in recognition of their exceptional achievement on AP exams for the 2019-20 school year.

The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program provides willing and academically prepared students with the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses while still in high school, and to earn college credit, advanced placement, or both for successful performance on the AP exams. 

The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement based on students’ performance on AP exams.

Holly Lewis ‘20, daughter of French and Suzanne Lewis of Middletown, earned the National AP Scholar Distinction by receiving an average score of at least 4 on all AP exams taken, and scores of 4 or higher on eight or more of her exams.

Eight students earned the AP Capstone Diploma recognition. This is awarded to any student who earns scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research and on 4 additional AP exams of their choosing.

Twelve students qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award by earning an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. 

Fifteen students qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award by 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. 

Twenty-four students qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP exams with scores of 3 or higher. 

Through different college-level courses and exams, AP provides students the opportunity to earn college credit or advanced placement and stand out in the college admission process. In the 2019-20 school year Mercy High School taught 20 of those courses. 

Each exam is developed by a committee of college and university faculty and AP teachers, ensuring that AP exams are aligned with the same high standards expected by college faculty at some of the nation’s leading liberal arts and research institutions.  Mercy High School administered 275 AP exams in 18 subject areas to 138 of students. 80.4% of those who took exams received a passing grade of 3, 4 or 5 on one or more exams.

Research shows that AP students who score a 3 or higher on AP exams (based on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest) typically experience greater academic success in college and have higher college graduation rates than students who do not participate in AP.

By Marie Kalita