3 Bibb County high schools earn 2024 AP Honor Schools distinction

Howard, Rutland and Northeast High Schools celebrate Advanced Placement success

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Three Bibb County School District high schools are being recognized for their Advanced Placement (AP) efforts.

According to a news release from Georgia School Superintendent Richard Woods, Howard High School was named an AP Access & Support School and an AP Stem School, while Rutland High School was named an AP Challenge School. Northeast High School was named an AP Expansion School.

“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the 2024 AP Honor Schools,” Superintendent Woods said. “I commend them for their hard work to build strong Advanced Placement programs and, as a result, provide high-quality opportunities for Georgia students. Additionally, I am thrilled that the number of AP Honor Schools and school districts continues to rise each year – a testament to the commitment of Georgia public education to expand opportunities for all Georgia students.”

The three schools join a list of 276 Advanced Placement (AP) Honor Schools from 99 school districts for 2024, named in eight categories based on results of 2023 AP courses and exams.

AP Access & Support Schools

– Schools with at least 30% of AP exams taken by students who identified as African American and/or Hispanic (minimum of 16 students) and 30% of all AP exams earning scores of 3 or higher. At least 25 exams must be administered.

AP Stem Schools

– Schools with a minimum of five students testing in at least four AP STEM courses, 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, and a minimum of 25 exams administered.

AP Challenge Schools

– Schools with enrollments of 900 or fewer students and exams administered in English, math, science, and social studies and a minimum of 25 total exams administered.

AP Expansion Schools

– AP schools with 25% growth in AP student participation from May 2022 to May 2023 and a minimum of 25 students testing in May 2022.

All designations required schools to have at least 25 tests administered, according to a Bibb County School District news release. Advanced Placement exams are administered by the College Board and are one of the ways high school students earn college credit before they receive their high school diploma.

The Georgia Department of Education began recognizing AP Honor Schools in 2008.