News
Fifty Honored for AP Achievement
Fifty students received Advanced Placement awards for their scores on May's exams. Of four National Scholars, one received an International Diploma.
Fifty current seniors and graduates of the Class of 2016 have received Advanced Placement awards from the College Board in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the college-level Advanced Placement Program Exams taken last May.
Four recent GPS alumnae were named National AP Scholars, a distinction granted only to students who receive an average score of at least 4 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams. Scores range from 1-5, with 4's and 5's considered exemplary.
Ayushi Sinha, now a freshman at Princeton, scored 5’s on eight of the nine exams taken. Lucy St. Charles, a freshman at Duke, scored all 5’s on the nine exams she completed. Mary Lyddon Thatcher, now at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, had seven 5’s on nine exams.
Caroline West had eight 5’s out of 10 exams. Currently a freshman at Johns Hopkins University, she was also awarded an AP International Diploma for receiving scores of 3 or higher on five or more AP Exams in three or more subject areas.
"Our students’ achievements are a true testimony to the talent that exists in the Chattanooga region," says GPS Head of School Dr. Autumn Graves. "Working together with our outstanding faculty, the students create the foundation needed for developing the confidence, knowledge, and skills needed to excel at these top academic levels."
GPS offered 24 Advanced Placement courses to sophomores, juniors, and seniors. An impressive 88% of GPS students scored three or above across all courses, a percentage in line with the school’s annual success rate and significantly higher than state and national averages of 58% and 60% respectively. In AB and BC Calculus, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Statistics, Environmental Science, and Computer Science, 80% of students scored a 3 or above, an important indicator for those hoping to pursue a profession in the STEM field.
Other recognition from the Advanced Placement program included AP Scholar with Distinction, awarded to 22 students; AP Scholar with Honor, earned by 15 students; and AP Scholar, awarded to 13 students. Through the College Board’s AP program, academically prepared students have the opportunity to earn college credit. Most four-year colleges provide credit and/or advanced placement for qualifying scores.
