St. Thomas is proud to acknowledge the continuing excellence of its college-level Advanced Placement (AP) scholar program.

AP grades are evaluated on a 1 to 5 scale. Students who achieve a 3, 4, or 5 out of 5 on single-subject exams typically receive college credit.

More than 82% of the Eagle scholars who participated in the 2018 testing earned 3+. The results in English Literature and Composition are particularly striking – 50% scored 5 and 80% above 3 with an average score of 4.25.

Results also spiked in United States Government and Politics, World History, Calculus BC, Computer Science A and Music Theory where more than 50% of the Eagle tests recorded in the 4s and 5s.

Since 2014, the total number of St. Thomas AP scholars has increased by 30% with a five-year average of 86% generating scores of 3+.

“Our ability to maintain a very high profile in AP brings a spotlight not only to exceptional students but to their school and their communities,” principal Aaron Dominguez ‘96 said. “The outcomes are driven through due diligence and dedication including our committed faculty members. Regardless of the discipline, we relish the opportunity to discover where our students may experience an accelerated path to distinction wherever their passions take them.”

While colleges and universities offer varying policies for awarding credit, many recent St. Thomas graduates entered college with a semester or an academic year already completed. This often allows them the opportunity to earn bachelor degrees in less than four years.

The goal of the St. Thomas AP program is to expose students to the rigorous standards they will encounter in college, enhance preparedness and challenge students beyond the regular and honors curriculum. AP students grasp complicated vocabulary and concepts, and delve more deeply into topics through practical applications and critical thinking.

Existing research offers strong evidence that scoring a 3 or more on the AP exam predicts greater academic success in college and is a useful assessment tool in admissions offices.

The Advanced Placement program was created in the 1950s and is conducted by the College Board, the huge education nonprofit corporation that also administers the SAT.

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