The College Board announced that 17 FCPS high schools have been named to the Advanced Placement (AP) School Honor Roll. Schools can earn bronze, silver, gold, or platinum distinction. 

Schools can earn this recognition annually based on criteria that reflect a commitment to increasing college-going culture, providing opportunities for students to earn college credit, and maximizing college readiness. 

The AP program offers college-level courses and exams that students can take in high school. By taking AP exams, students can earn college credit. FCPS pays the fees for the first six AP exams taken by each student for FCPS courses in which they are also enrolled for high school credit.

The schools named to the AP School Honor Roll are:

Bronze Distinction Schools

• Falls Church High School
• Herndon High School

Silver Distinction Schools

• Centreville High School
• Fairfax High School
• Hayfield Secondary School
• South County High School
• West Potomac High School
• West Springfield High School
• Westfield High School

Gold Distinction Schools

• Chantilly High School
• Lake Braddock Secondary School 
• Madison High School

Platinum Distinction Schools

• Langley High School
• McLean High School
• Oakton High School
• Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
• Woodson High School

For a school to be recognized on the AP School Honor Roll in a given year, it must meet each of the following criteria for their students in the most recent graduating class; these criteria are anchored in research-based relationships between AP and college outcomes: 

Bronze Distinction: 

• College Culture: 40% or more of the graduating cohort took at least one AP exam during high school.
• College Credit: 25% or more of the graduating cohort scored a 3 or higher on at least one AP exam during high school.
• College Optimization: 2% or more of the graduating cohort took five or more AP exams during high school*. 

Silver Distinction 

• College Culture: 50% or more. 
• College Credit: 30% or more. 
• College Optimization: 5% or more.

Gold Distinction 

• College Culture: 65% or more. 
• College Credit: 35% or more. 
• College Optimization: 10% or more.

Platinum Distinction 

• College Culture: 80% or more. 
• College Credit: 50% or more. 
• College Optimization: 15% or more.

*At least one of those exams was taken in 9th or 10th grade, so that students are spreading their AP experience across grades rather than feeling disproportionate pressure in any single year. 

More information about the AP School Honor Roll is available online.