180 RCPS students honored as AP scholars, Rockdale sets record with 743 AP scores of 3 or higher

ROCKDALE COUNTY, GA– Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) honors its 180 students recently named 2026 Advanced Placement (AP) Scholars – including five AP Capstone Diplomas – for their outstanding performance on the 2025-2026 exams. This is an increase from 168 students the previous year, with all our high schools represented among AP Scholars. The number of AP scores of 3 or higher, earning potential college credit, was the highest ever in district history – 743.

Image Credit: AI for illustration purposes(not actual RCPS students)

“We are incredibly proud of our students who have earned these prestigious AP Scholar recognitions,” said RCPS Superintendent Dr. Stephanie S. Johnson. “These students have challenged themselves with rigorous coursework and demonstrated the skills needed for success. Their achievement is a testament not only to their academic talent and dedication, but also to the perseverance and commitment to excellence of our educators and schools. We are committed to continuing to expand opportunities for rigor and preparing students for success in college, careers, and beyond.”

Rockdale County Board of Education Chairwoman Sandra Jackson-Lett said, “On behalf of the Rockdale County Board of Education and our entire RCPS community, I congratulate each of these scholars and thank our teachers, staff, and families for the support they provide in helping students reach these remarkable heights. Their success reflects the bright future ahead for our students, our schools and our district.”

Each year, thousands of high school students across the world take AP exams. The College Board recognizes the hard work of top students through the awarding of several distinctions: AP Scholar, AP Scholar with Honor, AP Scholar with Distinction, and the AP Capstone Diploma.

One hundred six (106) RCPS students were recognized as AP Scholars. This distinction is given to students who receive a score of 3 or higher on three or more AP exams. Of those, 74 were students at Rockdale County High School (RCHS) (which includes students at Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology, RMSST), 29 attended Heritage High School (HHS), and three were students at Salem High School (SHS).

Twenty-nine (29) RCPS students were recognized as AP Scholars with Honor, which is awarded to students who receive an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken and score a 3 or higher on four or more of those exams. Of those, 22 were students at RCHS (which includes RMSST), and five were students at HHS, and two were students at SHS.

Forty (40) RCPS students were recognized as AP Scholars with Distinction, which is awarded to those students who receive an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP exams and score 3 or higher on five or more AP exams. Of those, 35 students were at RCHS (which includes RMSST), three were students at HHS, and two were students at SHS.

Five (5) RCPS students earned the prestigious AP Capstone diploma. These four students attended RCHS/RMSST. The AP Capstone is a diploma program based on two yearlong AP courses: AP Seminar and AP Research. Instead of teaching specific subject knowledge, AP Seminar and AP Research use an interdisciplinary approach to develop the critical thinking, research, collaboration, time management, and presentation skills students need for college-level work. Students who earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research and on four additional AP Exams of their choosing receive the AP Capstone Diploma.  

All of these students are to be commended for their hard work and dedication to their education. Being recognized as an AP Scholar is an honor, and RCPS congratulates the following students:

AP CAPSTONE DIPLOMA

Olivia P. Howard-Bashir
Olivia C. Land
Kendall N. Parker
Zachary E. Thomas
Sophia N. Zakirova

AP SCHOLAR WITH DISTINCTION

Elissa E. Anderson
Jailen J. Antoine
Abdullah Vaseem Ather
Wai Y. Aung
Laila A. Bazelais
Nikayla Brewington
Saya L. Brown
David D. Buchanan
Abner E. Chivalan
Gabrielle Christie
Aniyah J. Cox
Toan Do
Dani L. Donald
Myles D. Fowler
Joel E. Gayle
Harley C. Gipson
Valeria Gonzalez
Nuwoh T. Harris
Isabelle L. Jean-Louis
Ryan X. Lin
Marcus I. McElroy
Dylan J. Morris
Sara M. Newman
Daniel Nguyen
William J. Nozart
Chinaecherem G. Okonkwo
Oyinkansola M. Omotoso
Courtney O. Powell Jr
Alani R. Pullen
Patrick E. Randall
Mason L. Reece
Rickie E. Reed
Francisco I. Rodriguez
Rebekah Sistrat
Dayana A. Theus
Zachary E. Thomas
Gabrielle A. Thomson
Nathan R. Thomson
Helen P. Vilichay
Charlotte A. Wright

AP SCHOLAR WITH HONOR

Julieta Alonso
Cameron Baquet
Jai'Cyen A. Bell
Khira D. Bibbs
Ronaldo Bravo
Demi A. Burrow
Samuel A. Chaves
Leah J. Chirico
Landia D. Copeland
Kaden R. Davis
Michael Davis
Mitchell J. Flater
Gabrielle A. Gayle
Logan D. Harila
Poppy M. Harris
Cameron S. Jeffries
Mylani N. Latson
Melusi M. Mlotshwa
Maizen A. Moore
Michael A. Moss
Niv N. Patel
Damaris Ramos
Morgan E. Rhodes
Devin L. Swims
Makayla G. Varnado
Atia T. Wali
Isabella M. Waller
Brooke E. Weston
Brianna C. Wood 

AP SCHOLAR

Shasmeen M. Afseen
Caitlin J. Alexander
Nancy C. Bailey
Abimifola B. Bamidele
Caleb J. Barnwell
Charles A. Batson
Hannah Beharry
Christopher R. Broaddus Jr.
McKenzie C. Broughton
Micah S. Browning
Olivia L. Brumdage
Sammie L. Burkhalter
Kina Burris
Cadence D. Carson
Derrick Carter
Ashton Chambers
Saige M. Chandler
Madison I. Cobb
Laila S. Coleman
Olivia A. Cook
Gabriella Cornwall
Nicole J. Dardy
Madelyn A. Davis
Makayla S. Davis
Sarah K. Diakite
Blythe M. Dotson
Kaleb M. Dove
Lailah S. Evans
Benjamin T. Fisher
Jaiden M. Flagg
Ari L. Foster
Macyn R. Frazier
Micah T. Frazier
Emily A. Gallardo
Brandon X. Gibson
Rihandra A. Gordon
Rogers F. Gotier
Kevin O. Gray
Golden G. Green
Alexandria M. Griggs
Kelsii J. Harvey
Alicia Henry
Christopher S. Hernandez
Olivia P. Howard-Bashir
OrLaila T. Hunter
My-Vi A. Huynh
Daemyn C. Ivey
Lillian D. Jackson
Myeisha G. James
Alejandra Jimenez-Grande
Elijah Q. Johnson
Nathan R. Joseph
Zackary A. Kori
Morgan J. Kyles
Olivia C. Land
Corbin S. Lykins
Katelynn A. Maclin
Mario Manriquez
Allison Marquez-Cabrerra
Raegan A. McCambry
Reagan V. McCollors
Khori S. Mcfarlane
Fatima G. Mendez
Nguyen K. Nguyen
Zion K. Njenga
Jeanee M. Omotayo
Feyisayo P. Omotoso
Isabella A. Owens
Richard A. Owolabi
Kendall N. Parker
Aryan V. Parmar
London E. Pascal
Jason Pham
Leah S. Phillips
Jackie Pimentel-Martinez
Joshua M. Pollard
Kaavya A. Prabhakar
Angelo T. Price
Gabriela Recinos Quintero
Antonio D. Reid
Joanna Rhee
Samuel Rodriguez
Kenadi M. Sales
Marcus A. Salon-Maceira
Chance M. Sanford
Brady A. Scott
Neil Sethi
Jusiah D. Smith
Nathaniel G. Sneed
Brennan J. Speights
Joshua A. Stamp
Breanna A. Strong
Jacqueline P. Sumrall
Tonnielle A. Tennant
Phylicia K. Thomas
Josslyn R. Walls
Mary S. Whitley Nelson
Kaylee Williams
Michael G. Williamson
Aaliyah J. Willis
Demi I. Wilson
Aidyn S. Woods
Jamal H. Yassin
Muna H. Yassin
Sophia N. Zakirova
Fabiola G. Zarat

Image Credit: AI for illustration purposes(not actual RCPS students)