Three 2005 Arkansas City High School graduates have earned the designation of AP Scholar by the College Board in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the college-level Advanced Placement Program (AP) Exams.

The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program offers students the opportunity to take challenging college-level courses while still in high school, and to receive college credit, advanced placement or both for successful performance on the AP Exams. About 18 percent of the more than one million high school students in more than 15,000 secondary schools worldwide who took AP Exams performed at a sufficiently high level to merit the recognition of AP Scholar.

Students took AP Exams in May 2005 after completing challenging college-level courses at their high schools. The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement based on student’s performance on AP exams.

One ACHS graduate qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award by earning an average grade of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams. James Swanson was this student. He is the son of Gary and Julie Swanson and is now attending Kansas State University.

Two ACHS graduates qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP Exams, with grades of 3 or higher. The AP Scholars are Jonathan Maslen and Sean Waugh. Jonathan is the son of David and Theresa Maslen and is attending Kansas State University. Sean is the son of Cindy Waugh and is attending the University of Oklahoma.

Most of the nation’s colleges and universities award credit, advanced placement or both based on successful performance on the AP Exams. More than 1,400 institutions award a full year’s credit (sophomore standing) to students presenting a sufficient number of qualifying grades. In 2005, 34 AP Exams were offered in a wide variety of subject areas, each consisting of multiple-choice and free-response (essay or problem-solving) questions (except for the Studio Art exam which evaluates students’ original artwork).

The College Board’s mission is to connect students to college success and opportunity. It is a not-for-profit membership organization committed to excellence and equity in education. Founded in 1900, the association is composed of more than 4,700 schools, colleges, universities and other educational organizations. Each year the College Board serves more than 3.5 million students and their parents, 23,000 high schools and 3,500 colleges through major programs and services in college admissions, guidance, assessment, financial aid, enrollment, and teaching and learning. Among its best-known programs are the SAT, the PSAT/NMSQT and the AP Program.