Science Hill High School is excited to celebrate the 24 students who earned the AP Capstone Diploma and eight students who earned the AP Seminar and Research Certificate during the 2020-2021 school year.
“We are proud to recognize the achievements of our students who successfully completed these challenging Advanced Placement options,” Science Hill Principal Josh Carter said. “The AP program at Science Hill is one of the many opportunities that we provide our students to prepare them for whichever path they want to pursue after graduation. Our Board of Education has been very supportive of growing the AP program over the past several years and these accomplishments are a direct result of those investments.”
Those honored with AP Capstone Diplomas included Zack Clemons, Amber Early, Aniekanabasi Eno-Ekefre, Jeremyah Flowers, Marisa Gibbons, Madison Gondo, Margaret Hance, Samuel Hodshon, Ashlyn Hudson, Julia Jeffress, Samuel Ledbetter, Preston Lloyd, Sarah Luna, Aspen Matosky, Rachel Newberry, Ly Na Nguyen, Nicole Odom, Austin Rich, Phina Ritchie, Mouna Saab, Sara Shively, Angela Urrea, Marie Wright and Ava Yobst.
Additionally, eight Science Hill students – Zarayah Alexander, Elijah Bragg, Ethan Martinez, Sydney Middleton, Rabia Okuyucu, Jenna Overbay, AaliyahVismanos and Christina Ward – earned an AP Seminar and Research Certificate.
The Advanced Placement program’s growth has resulted in more offerings and currently offers 30 AP classes. Science Hill students are also finding impressive success in the programs as 65 percent of Science Hill students scored a 3 or higher on their exams. That number surpassed the national average of 62.2 percent and the Tennessee average of 59.7 percent. The Johnson City Board of Education also takes the unique step of paying for AP exams for all students, which has helped remove barriers and encourage students to enroll in the classes.
To receive the AP Capstone Diploma, students must earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar, AP Research, and on four additional AP Exams. To receive the AP Seminar and Research Certificate, students must earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research.
Unlike traditional AP subject exams with a single end-of-year assessment, AP Seminar and AP Research assessments are project-based and evaluate skills mastery through group projects, presentations, and individual essays completed throughout the year. Instead of focusing on one specific academic discipline, AP Seminar and AP Research are interdisciplinary: students are empowered to create research projects based on topics of personal interest and they are assessed on critical thinking, research, collaboration, time management, and presentation skills needed to complete their projects.
If a Science Hill student or parent would like more information about Advanced Placement classes, they are encouraged to speak with their counselor and visit ScienceHill.jcschools.org/AP.
