Public school students earning AP honors at all-time high

Hawaii's AP test-taking rate and passing rate has significantly increased in recent years. The number of students receiving AP honors has steadily risen since 2012, when 385 students were named scholars.

 From left: Mililani High's Mocz, Maui High's Galapon and Hilo High's Takato.

​​​​​​​​News Release from Hawaii DoE 17-Sep-2014

A record 492 public high school students from across Hawaii have earned AP Scholar Awards for exceptional achievement in rigorous college-level courses, according to the College Board.

Students who succeed on AP exams may earn college credit, advanced placement, or both. About 20 percent of the 2.1 million students worldwide who took AP exams performed at a sufficiently high level to also earn an AP Scholar Award, which ranges from several levels of achievement.

Viola Mocz from Mililani High and Bryson Galapon from Maui High were named Hawaii's 2014 AP Scholars for scoring 3 or higher (on a five-point scale) on the greatest number of AP exams, and the highest average score (at least 3.5) on all AP exams taken.

At Hilo High, Mikiko Takato earned the AP International Diploma, which is granted to students who earn a score of 3 or higher on five or more total AP exams, including exams in a world language, English, a global perspective course, and a math, science or computer science.

At Kahuku, Maui, Mililani, and Waiakea high schools, a combined seven students qualified for the National AP Scholar Award by earning an average score of 4 or higher on all AP exams taken, and scores of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams. These students are: Cooper Schwartz and Chenoa Yorgason (Kahuku High), Bryson Galapon and Min Sung Kim (Maui High), Viola Mocz and Ganesh Prasa Rapolu (Mililani High), and Craeme Thistlewaite (Waiakea High).

"I commend all of our students and AP Scholars for taking advantage of and succeeding in challenging exams," said Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi. "We look forward to continue expanding AP course offerings so students may dive deeper into their learning and get ahead in college while in high school."

In addition:

• 92 students at 24 Hawaii State Department of Education (DOE) high schools qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award by earning an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.
• 102 students at 21 Hawaii DOE high schools qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award by earning an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams.
• ​298 students at 32 Hawaii DOE high schools qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP exams with scores of 3 or higher.

Click here​ for a complete list of Hawaii's 2014 AP Scholars.

Thanks in part to the DOE's Advanced Placement Incentive Program launched in September 2011 — which expanded AP course offerings and AP test preparation and participation in public high schools — Hawaii's AP test-taking rate and passing rate has significantly increased in recent years. The number of students receiving AP honors has steadily risen since 2012, when 385 students were named scholars.

Through 34 different college-level courses and exams, AP provides willing and academically prepared students with the opportunity to earn college credit or advanced placement and stand out in the college admission process. Each exam is developed by a committee of college and university faculty and AP teachers, ensuring that AP exams are aligned with the same high standards expected by college faculty at some of the nation's leading liberal arts and research institutions.

​Research consistently shows students who score a 3 or higher on AP exams typically experience greater academic success in college and have higher college graduation rates.