124 RCPS students honored as 2023-2024 AP Scholars

Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) recently honored 124 students named as Advanced Placement (AP) Scholars – including two AP Capstone Diploma for their outstanding performance on the 2023-2024 exams.

The most recent number of  scholars marks an increase of 20 students from the previous year with all Rockdale high schools represented among AP Scholars. The number of RCPS students scoring 3 or higher also increased 70% from 2022-23 with 316 students to 538 students in 2023-24.

“I am proud of our students, faculty and staff for continuing to expand their reach with Advanced Placement,” said RCPS Superintendent Terry Oatts. “Increasing the number of AP scholars to this level, along with a 70% increase in scores of 3 or higher in one year, is truly remarkable. Such achievement in this rigorous coursework opens doors for students to earn credit and attend the college of their choice.”

Rockdale County Board of Education Chairwoman Pam Brown also praised the scholars.

“These results demonstrate that our students are ready and prepared for higher education after high school,” Brown said. “We have amazing students who are not afraid to challenge themselves with this college level work while in high school. And, we have great teachers and support staff who are committed to their success. Congratulations to all!”

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.

Seventy-three 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, 60 were students at Rockdale County High School (RCHS) (which includes students at Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology, RMSST), 11 attended Heritage High School (HHS), and two were students at Salem High School (SHS).

Twenty 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, 19 were students at RCHS (which includes RMSST), and one was a student at HHS.

Twenty-nine) 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, 28 students were at RCHS (which includes RMSST), and one was a student at HHS.

Two RCPS students earned the prestigious AP Capstone diploma. These two 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.

AP Capstone Diploma

Alexa Apiyo

Jaycee Herth

AP Scholar with Distinction

Emmanuel L. Allen

Alexa M. Apiyo

Xander H. Atkinson

Precious O. Babajide

Abigail C. Baker

Christian Bridges

Noah J. Buchanan

Salvador Cervantes

Gabrielle Christie

Jayden T. Edwards

Trenton E. Fulgham

Jose D. Funes

Joel E. Gayle

Prakash Gupta

Saidah Hoyte

Demilade A. Ladipo

Andrew R. Land

Ayat E. Mateen

Maleah R. Miller

Ian X. Morgan

Dalena Nguyen

Delano M. Page

Gavin C. Reece

Matilda B. Rodgers

Rowan Rodgers

Alismariet T. Salom-Maceira

Joel E. Samuels

Kathryn L. Stoltz

Andrew Tyler

AP Scholar with Honor 

Elissa E. Anderson

Milene A. Babkina

Ethan A. Barlay

Victoria L. Brown

Zoe Cannon

Dani L. Donald

Camille E. Hall

Nia F. Halley

Logan D. Harila

Kayla A. Holland

Taylor R. Howell

Mariyah A. Humphries

Trinity James

Bao Nguyen H. Le

Alexis Martinez

Dakota Melvin

James T. Miller

Camila Moreno

Ashlee H. Shirley

Sophia N. Zakirova

AP Scholar

Caitlin J. Alexander

Sameeha T. Ali

Jonah D. Baker

Kaylee A. Baldwin

Abimifola B. Bamidele

Ariana Boyd

Keelia M. Brasfield

Christopher R. Broaddus, Jr.

McKenzie C. Broughton

Kina Burris

Juretsy S. Castaneda

Harold S. Chambers

Skye M. Chandler

Skylar M. Chandler

Abner E. Chivalan

Ethan Collisworth

Landia D. Copeland

Alyssa N. Cornwall

Olivia A. DeFrancesco

Madisyn A. Dennis

Kayleigh L. Duren

Talia L. Ector

Alton Ellis

Taylor Flagg

Gemma A. Gayle

Harley C. Gipson

Alexa S. Gomez-Ventura

Mila A. Gutsulyak

Sydney A. Hammett

Jaycee L. Herth

Asia M. Holley

Colin J. Hudson

Kamari D. Hudson

My-Vi A Huynh

DeAnna G. Jackson

Kaede Jarvis

Evan A. Johnston

Shiloh M. Knutsen

Olivia C. Land

Katya S. Lans

Jin Lin

Jesus A. Lopez

Christina H. Luong

Matthew S. McCoy

Terron D. McRae

Juan L. Moran

Alan Nguyen

Maya A. Odell

Victor O. Olufowote

Hayaa J. Patel

Ryan E. Rakestraw

Jessica E. Rhee

Ayden J. Robinson

Lucas C. Rodgers

Ayala K. Rodney

Emily G. Royal

Emani Ruffin

Kenadi M. Sales

Marcus A. Salom-Maceira

Emilia A. Samuels

Kayla B. Smith

Penny L. Smith

Shinnel K. Solomon

Brennan J. Speights

Logan R. Sprinkle

Bryson P. Strozier

Zachary E. Thomas

Nathan R. Thomson

Kameron J. Tyler

Isabella M. Waller

Cadyn A. Wells

Alicia D Wright

Muna H. Yassin