Huntington's AP Scholar Ranks
Inch Higher
The number of Huntington High School students honored for their performance on national Advanced Placement exams has inched higher as teenagers at the school continue to challenge themselves academically by enrolling in tough classes and in many cases mastering the material.
Huntington had eight National AP Scholars, 33 AP Scholars with Distinction, 13 AP Scholars with Honors and 33 AP Scholars last year. The 79 AP award winners (the National AP Scholar honorees are accounted for among the AP Scholars with Distinction) denote an increase of three such honorees compared to 2010. The district had 76 honorees last year, 80 honorees in 2009, 76 in 2008 and 72 in 2007.
"All of us are very proud of these young people for challenging themselves by taking demanding courses and sitting for difficult exams," Superintendent James W. Polansky said. "It's wonderful to see so many students willing to expend the extra effort and hours of hard work that AP courses require."
To qualify as an AP Scholar a student must score a 3 or higher on three Advanced Placement exams. Students must have an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken and grades of 3 or higher on four or more exams to earn the AP Scholar with Honors designation. To be recognized as an AP Scholar with Distinction necessitates a minimum average grade of 3.5 on all AP exams taken and grades of 3 or higher on five or more such tests.
A tracking report compiled by Huntington Principal Carmela Leonardi shows a noticeable rise in achievement beginning in May 2007. "This is a credit to teachers and students alike," she said.
Perhaps most impressive of all were the eight Huntington students who qualified for the National AP Scholar awards. The honor requires an average grade of at least 4 on all AP exams taken and grades of 4 or higher on eight or more of these difficult tests.
Over the past four years Huntington High School has had 28 National AP Scholars after having had just eight during the previous five year period running from 2003 to 2007.