Clarke Central and Cedar Shoals high schools in Athens-Clarke County were recently named Advanced Placement (AP) Honor Schools. 

Ginger Lehmann, AP coordinator at Clarke Central High School, said it’s rewarding to receive recognition from the state, especially given the rigor of the courses.

“We have students who take several courses, and it’s a very challenging course, and it’s also very demanding on the teachers, and the expectations are high,” Lehmann said. 

Both Clarke Central and Cedar Shoals were named AP Access and Support Schools and AP STEM schools. 

“Participation in these accelerated courses presents increased opportunities for postsecondary success for our students,” said Superintendent Robbie Hooker in a press release.

Cedar Shoals holds the title of AP STEM Achievement School as well. This means that a minimum of 50% of students taking the exams score at least a 3 or higher out of 5. 

To be named an AP Access and Support school, a school must have a minimum of 30% of AP exams completed with a score of 3 or higher and by students who identify as African-American and/or Hispanic. 

The criteria for AP STEM schools includes at least five students testing in a minimum of four AP STEM courses. These courses could be: 

• AP Calculus AB
• AP Calculus BC
• AP Statistics
• AP Biology
• AP Chemistry
• AP Environmental Science
• AP Physics 1
• AP Physics 2
• AP Physics C
• AP Computer Science A
• AP Computer Science Principles

Destiny Johnson and Allie Peagler are fourth-year journalism majors at the University of Georgia.