66 Rockdale County students named AP Scholars

CONYERS, GA– Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) is honoring the 66 students recently named 2021 Advanced Placement (AP) Scholars – including two AP Capstone Diploma recipients – for their outstanding performance on the 2020-2021 exams.

RCPS Superintendent Terry Oatts praised the students and teachers for their academic excellence.

“I heartily commend the scholars recognized by the College Board and their teachers for their excellent performance in Advanced Placement exams and in the advanced academics that are the precursor to such exams. Not only did they excel in rigorous college-preparatory coursework, but they remained focused despite the challenges of a global pandemic. We celebrate their tenacity and pursuit of excellence,” Oatts said.

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.

Thirty-five 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. Two were Heritage High School students and 33 were Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology (RMSST)/Rockdale County High School (RCHS) students.

Fifteen 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. All were RMSST/RCHS students.

Sixteen 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. All were RMSST/RCHS students.

Two RCPS students earned the prestigious AP Capstone diploma. Both were RMSST/RCHS students. 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

Ava Bailey

Gabrielle Wood

AP Scholar with Distinction 

Duc Le

Jr Insular

Maxwell Zhang

Ryan Wood

Alexander Zakirov

Douglas Bone

Hailey Covarrubias

Jackson Meyers

Laura Goldgar

Margaret Hwang

Mariana Rios

MyTien Huynh

Zak Yassin

Ava Bailey

Gabrielle Wood

Madeline Lombard 

AP Scholar with Honor 

Hannah Sanders

Isabella Powell

Sophia Fachisthers

Daniel Arias

Daniela Aguilar

Guinevere Grant

Hector Aguirre

Isaac Bare

Rose Francois

Sydney Moodie

Tyloni Bailey

Danielle Nguyen

Emma Macdonald

Faith Johnson

Hayley Sanders 

AP Scholar 

Amani Roberson

Angel Gomez

Destiny Sarter

Elizabeth Combs

Jai’Ana Burditte

Jeriko Kammerer

Jorge Escalera

Kayla Lewis

Laila Wood

Lauren McWilliams

Amelia Page

Christian Davis

Clark Fulgham

Esme McKinney

Gabrielle Daley

Junay Gamory

Grayson Cornelius

Jerry Gonzalez

Joel Oniha

Karen Tejada

Madison Jackson

Morgan Gill

Nylah Ductan

Robert South

Samuel Clark

Sydnee Hairston

William Moss

Brittany Valencia

Caleb Buchanan

Catherine Sanderson

Jaca Buddenbaum

Michaella Cowin

Nawal Reza

Nicholas Cowin

Timothy Nguyen