Johns Creek Schools Honored for AP Status

More than half of Fulton County high schools received designations as “AP Honor Schools” by the College Board, the organization in charge of Advanced Placement and the SAT. Eleven Fulton high schools were named to its annual list of high-performing high schools, including all three high schools in Johns Creek – , and . 

The 2012 awards are based on the Class of 2011’s testing results and are grouped into five categories: AP Merit Schools, AP STEM Schools, AP STEM Achievement Schools, AP Challenge Schools, and AP Access and Support Schools. The STEM categories recognize high schools with achievement in AP Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics courses. 

“These awards are validation that our high schools are encouraging students to challenge themselves and meet college-level expectations,” said Superintendent Robert Avossa. “Advanced Placement courses provide extra rigor to high-achieving students and help prepare them for a college environment. I couldn’t be more pleased to see so many schools named on these lists.”

AP Merit Schools

Nine Fulton schools received recognition as AP Merit Schools, the most of any school system in Georgia. The AP Merit distinction recognizes those with at least 20 percent of students taking AP exams and with at least half of those exams receiving a score of 3 or higher. Each of the schools have received this distinction for five consecutive years except Johns Creek High School, which is a newcomer to the list.

• Alpharetta High School
• Centennial High School
• Chattahoochee High School
• Johns Creek High School
• Milton High School
• North Springs Charter High School
• Northview High School
• Riverwood International Charter School
• Roswell High School

AP STEM Schools

All nine schools named as AP Merit Schools also were named AP STEM Schools, a category that recognizes schools with students testing in at least two AP math courses and two AP science courses. New to the AP Honor Schools list, Fulton Science Academy High School, was recognized for high math and science achievement, and Westlake High School was highlighted for a second consecutive year.

• Alpharetta High School
• Centennial High School
• Chattahoochee High School
• Fulton Science Academy High School
• Johns Creek High School
• Milton High School
• North Springs Charter High School
• Northview High School
• Riverwood International Charter School
• Roswell High School
• Westlake High School

AP STEM Achievement Schools

AP STEM Achievement Schools go beyond the AP STEM Schools category to recognize schools that have at least 40 percent of math and science test-takers earning scores of 3 or higher. In Fulton, 10 received the distinction.

• Alpharetta High School
• Centennial High School
• Chattahoochee High School
• Fulton Science Academy High School
• Johns Creek High School
• Milton High School
• North Springs Charter High School
• Northview High School
• Riverwood International Charter School
• Roswell High School 

AP Challenge Schools

Fulton Science Academy High School, which was formerly known as TEACH, was the only school in Fulton County to be named an AP Challenge School, a distinction that recognizes schools with fewer than 900 students offering AP classes in core content areas.

AP Access and Support Schools

Similarly, North Springs Charter High School was named an AP Access and Support School. The award recognizes North Springs’ effort to make Advanced Placement courses available to students of all backgrounds, and that at least 30 percent of its African-American or Hispanic AP test-takers scored a 3 or higher on national exams.

Advanced Placement classes offer rigorous college-level learning options to students in high school. The College Board administers AP exams each spring, with scores ranging from 1 to 5. Students who receive a 3, 4 or 5 on AP exams are eligible to receive college credit or may be exempt from some introductory college courses. 

After state funding was cut for 2011, Fulton now funds all AP examination costs not provided through state or federal funds. Funding this initiative ensures that all students have the opportunity to test their college-level knowledge and possibly earn college course credit.