Rome High School students took center stage last Tuesday as the school spent the day recognizing achievement in its Advanced Placement program, from students earning the highest possible score on an AP exam to 81 current students receiving national AP Scholar honors.
The celebrations began during the school day as Rome High recognized students who earned the highest possible score on an AP exam last school year. Students who scored a five on at least one exam walked the red carpet, posed for photos with Rome High Principal Dr. Christy Epps, and received High Five medals recognizing their achievement.
Forty seven Rome High students earned a five on at least one AP exam last school year.
The celebration continued Tuesday evening as Rome High welcomed students and families to the Performing Arts Center to recognize the school’s AP Scholars.
“This summer, Rome High School celebrated 133 AP Scholars from last school year. One hundred thirty-three students,” Dr. Epps told those gathered for the ceremony. “Of those students, 52 graduated and went on to college at schools such as the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, Belmont, Wake Forest, Emory, Berry, UNC Chapel Hill, University of Alabama, Samford, Caltech, Louisiana State University and even the Nuclear Power School with the United States Navy.”
The remaining 81 AP Scholars are current Rome High students and were recognized during Tuesday night’s ceremony. Students received certificates from Dr. Epps, while seniors also received cords they will wear at graduation.
The College Board recognizes AP Scholars in three categories based on their performance across multiple AP exams. Those distinctions include AP Scholar, AP Scholar with Honor, and AP Scholar with Distinction.
“These students are continuing to Move the Needle by challenging themselves with college-level coursework and demonstrating what they can accomplish,” Superintendent Dr. Eric L. Holland said. “Our goal is to make sure every student leaves Rome High School prepared for college or work, and the commitment these students are showing now is helping prepare them for those opportunities after graduation.”
Dr. Epps said the awards represent sustained academic achievement across a wide range of subjects.
“These awards are cumulative and give a picture of the commitment to excellence that our Rome High School students maintain throughout their entire high school career,” Dr. Epps said. “These students have excelled in areas ranging from human geography to art, to statistics, to microeconomics and much, much more. Rome High School is truly proud of these accomplishments and each of our AP Scholars.”
The recognition also highlighted the teachers and families who have supported students as they tackled college-level coursework while still in high school.
“We would like to take a moment to recognize the teachers, the parents, the grandparents, and the families that have all supported our students,” Dr. Epps said. “They cannot do this without your help.”
Rome High currently offers 28 different AP classes in a wide variety of content areas and has 471 students taking advantage of these courses this year, continuing to provide students opportunities to challenge themselves academically and experience college-level coursework before graduation.
For students who earned High Five medals Tuesday afternoon and those who walked across the Performing Arts Center stage Tuesday evening, the celebrations provided two opportunities to recognize the work taking place behind those accomplishments.