Eight Dickinson High School students were notified this past week that they earned special recognition with either an Advanced Placement Capstone Diploma or an Advanced Placement Capstone Certificate honoree for accomplishments during the 2023-2024 school year. Five of the students are current DHS seniors, while the other three graduated in May.
The Capstone Diploma honorees earned scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar, AP Research, and on four additional AP exams. They are Kelley LeBoeuf, Bethany Lloyd, Natalia Moreno, and Reece Richardson. The Capstone Seminar recipients earned scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research. They include Kelcy Cervantes, Anna Dawson, Sara Villalobos, and Maya Wright. A special congratulations as well to DHS teachers Kristi Trahan and Abbey Spruill for their success last year in their inaugural year with Capstone.
"We are thrilled with the achievements of our students who participated in the AP Capstone Diploma program," said Dr. Leone Clark, Director of Advanced Academics for Dickinson ISD. "AP Capstone is a relatively new offering for us. With the help of dedicated teachers, our AP Capstone students explored their passion through scholarly research as part of an impactful, multiyear program. This meaningful college readiness program is instrumental in preparing them for college and graduate work.
Student participation in the AP Capstone program has been steadily increasing, with over 100,000 students in over 2,500 schools worldwide taking part during the 2023-24 academic year. Approximately 21,000 students earned the AP Capstone Diploma, and 11,100 students earned the AP Seminar and Research Certificate.
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 encouraged to create research projects based on topics of personal interest. Students are assessed on the critical thinking, research, collaboration, time management, and presentation skills needed to complete their projects.
“We have been witnessing students’ renewed passion for learning through the AP Capstone program,” shared Bianca Peart, global lead of the AP Capstone Diploma program. “Together with the guidance of talented educators, students are building essential college and career readiness skills while exploring subjects that are meaningful to them.”
“Congratulations to the thousands of students who worked so hard to earn AP Capstone Diplomas and AP Seminar and Research Certificates,” said Trevor Packer, head of the Advanced Placement® Program. “These students are creating the pathways for their future academic and professional careers by building highly sought-after skills in project management, presentation, collaboration, and research.”
College Board’s Advanced Placement® Program (AP®) gives students the opportunity to take challenging college-level courses while still in high school. Earning a score of 3 or higher on an AP Exam has multiple benefits for students, including earning college credit, advanced placement in college courses, or both, saving them time and money. Research shows AP students are better prepared for and more likely to enroll and remain in college, do well in classes, and earn their degrees on time. Each exam is developed by a committee of college and university faculty and AP teachers, ensuring that AP Exams align with their high standards.
In partnership with the higher education community, College Board developed AP Capstone courses to help students build and master skills essential for success in college and career.
