NCSS Announces AP Scholars

NCSS Announces 2018 AP Scholars
Posted on 07/20/2018
AP ScholarsNewton County School System (NCSS) is pleased to announce that 127 students have earned AP Scholar Awards in recognition of their exceptional achievement on AP Exams during the 2017-2018 school year. The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program (AP) provides willing and academically prepared students with the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses while still in high school, and to earn college credit, advanced placement, or both for successful performance on the AP Exams.

The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement based on student’s performance on AP Exams.


National AP Scholar Award

Two Eastside High School students from the Class of 2018, Molly Carter and Cole Grady, qualified for the prestigious National AP Scholar Award by earning an average score of four or higher on a five-point scales on all AP Exams taken, and scores of four or higher on eight or more of these exams.

AP Scholar with Distinction Award

Twenty-five NCSS students qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award by earning an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of three or higher on five or more of these exams. These students are:

• Alcovy High School: Class of 2018—Seth Carpenter (NCCA); and Class of 2019—Julia Towns (NCCA).

• Eastside High: Class of 2018—Brooks Benton (NCCA), Courtney Britt, Tristan Chambers, Garrett Cotton, Tyler Davis, Logan Hartzell (NCCA), Sara Ann Hutchinson, Zach Lavender, Andy Li, Alyssa McCart, Ryan McCullough, Savannah Miller, Wesley Rains, Ryan Shirley, Jill Strickland and Isaac Ugan; and Class of 2019—Jackson Grady, Ashley King, Karsten McMichael, Rebekah Stowe, McKenna Walker, and Katlyn Williams.

• Newton High: Class of 2019—Joy Sharp


AP Scholar with Honor Award

Twenty-two NCSS students qualified for the AP Scholar with Honor Award by earning an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of three or higher on four or more of these exams. These students include:

• Alcovy High: Class of 2018—Cedric Benton, Daphne Ramirez, and Raven Ruff; and Class of 2019—Jacob Osborn and Riley Thompson (NCCA).

• Eastside High: Class of 2018—Chase Bohne, Ralph Brown (NCCA), Camille Hay, Katherine Oliver, and Isabelle Rogers; and Class of 2019—Haley Boogher, Dani Fairey, Georgia Glaze, Muhammad Bilal Haider Zaidi, Christian Johnson, Kendel McAuliffe, and Ellie Proffitt.

• Newton High: Class of 2018—Anthony Fiddes (NCCA) and Shanna Jackson (NCCA); and Class of 2019—Jordyn Greenwood, Nala McCamy, and Thomas Powell.

AP Scholar Award

Seventy-eight NCSS students qualified for the AP Scholar Award by completing three or more AP Exams with scores of three or higher. These AP Scholars include:

• Alcovy High: Class of 2018—Brittany Allen (NCCA), Viviana Barreto Roballo (NCCA), Dorothy Bryans, James Cato (NCCA), Caley Coots, Rachel Culberson, Rachel De Las Casas, Nathaniel Green, Glennessa Hodge, Ethan Miller, Triniti Peka-Mock, Danette Thomas (NCCA), and Shemera Valentine; Class of 2019—William Jordan, Vongai Mhute (NCCA), Allison Mowatt (NCCA), and Bradley Piper (NCCA); and Class of 2020—Conner Jessup (NCCA).

• Eastside High: Class of 2018—Mallary Byrd, Savannah Camp, Connor Cantrell, Carson Daniel, Sloan Edge, Cason Galloway, Elayna Guerrero, Sara Hammonds, Doster Harper (NCCA), Kalene Heilesen, Josh Herron, Audrey Holder, Camille Johnson, Preston Johnson, Clay Jones, Gabi Lyons, Carter Malcolm, Georgia Matheson, A.J. McAuliffe, Emma Raines (NCCA), Sydney Sellers, Jade Sessums, Sierra Springston, and Mckenzie Walker; Class of 2019—Brendan Amman, Alex Brown, Emma Camfield, Maggie Camfield, Hayley Chiappetta, Jacob David, Hannah Everette, Caroline Grimaldi, Muhammad Ejaz Haider Zaidi, Ryan Harris, Caleb Herron, Sarah Hicks, Olivia Holladay, Bethany Joones, Gavin Keys, Harrison Kirkham (NCCA), Sara Mobley, Madison Roberts, Jonathan Sugg, Ross Thompson, Richard Watson (NCCA), and Shellie Xu; and Class of 2020—Braxton Buff and Creighton Goerner.

• Newton High: Class of 2018—Kiara Cannon, Laurel Freeman (NCCA) , Louis Grady, Alexander Lowe (STEM), Casey Roberson, and Payton Thompson.; Class of 2019—Jasmine Houston, Hanna Reiser, Kai Rivers (NCCA), Lanyse Ruff, Shelby Strickland, and Avel Triana (NCCA).

Those students still currently enrolled in high school have this school year in which to complete additional college-level work and possibly earn a higher-level AP Scholar Award.

“Advanced Placement classes are more difficult than standard classes as they necessitate high-level calculating and critical thinking skills required of college students,” said Dr. Nikkita Warfield, NCSS director of secondary education. “Exposure to AP classes in high school helps prepare students to better handle the rigors of college-level studies. It is exciting to see so many of our students enrolling in these rigorous courses, as it indicates that they are committed to extending themselves now, in high school, so they are better prepared and more likely to succeed when they get to college.”

Warfield added, “We have excellent AP teachers who are preparing our students for college through daily exposure to high level teaching strategies and rigorous coursework. Our AP scholars as well as their teachers should be very proud of this accomplishment. We have focused on college and career readiness across all grade levels and this is the result. Our students are earning national recognition as AP scholars, but more importantly, they are leaving our high schools better prepared to succeed in college.”

“I am very proud of these students,” said NCSS Superintendent Samantha Fuhrey. “They have not only challenged themselves by enrolling in these very rigorous AP courses but they have also excelled in them. Attaining AP Scholar designation is no easy feat as these are college-level courses. To have almost 130 NCSS students named AP Scholars is a testament to the students’ commitment to their studies and their teachers’ dedication to providing rigorous instruction with high expectations in the classroom each and every day.”

Through 34 different college level courses and exams, AP provides willing and academically prepared students with the opportunity to earn college credit or advanced placement and stand out in the college admission process. Each exam is developed by a committee of college and university faculty and AP teachers, ensuring that AP Exams are aligned with the same high standards expected by college faculty at some of the nation’s leading liberal arts and research institutions. More than 3,800 colleges and universities annually receive AP scores. Most four-year colleges in the United States provide credit and/or advanced placement for qualifying exam scores. Research consistently shows that AP students who score a 3 or higher on AP Exams (based on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest) typically experience greater academic success in college and have higher college graduation rates than students who do not participate in AP.

The College Board is a mission-driven not-for-profit organization that connects students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the College Board was created to expand access to higher education. Today, the membership association is made up of over 6,000 of the world’s leading educational institutions and is dedicated to promoting excellence and equity in education.

Each year, the College Board helps more than seven million students prepare for a successful transition to college through programs and services in college readiness and college success—including SAT and the Advanced Placement Program. The organization also serves the education community through research and advocacy on behalf of students, educators and schools.

For more information on Newton County School System’s AP Scholars, contact Ms. Sherri Davis, Director of Public Relations for Newton County Schools, at [email protected].

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