Eight recent Deer Park High School graduates – Hannah Ferguson, Angelique Jean-Pierre, Kathy Lin, Calvin Nguyen, Demitrius Plangetis, Valeriana Rosales, Liliana Salgado and Helena Thomas – earned the AP Capstone Diploma during the 2023-24 school year. Additionally, two Class of 2024 graduates – Nora Elmoussaoui and Julia Silva – earned the AP Seminar and Research Certificate. The AP Capstone Diploma program helps students develop critical thinking, research, collaboration and presentation skills that are essential to academic success.  

“We proudly recognize the achievements of students who participated in the AP Capstone Diploma program,” said Associate Principal Dr. Dina Pannone. “With the help of dedicated teachers, our AP Capstone students explored their passions through scholarly research as part of an impactful, multiyear program. This meaningful college readiness program will serve our students well after high school.”

To receive the AP Capstone Diploma, students must earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar, AP Research and four additional AP Exams of their choice. To receive the AP Seminar and Research Certificate, students must earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research. Student participation in the AP Capstone program has been steadily increasing, with over 100,000 students in over 2,500 schools worldwide taking part during the 2023-2024 academic year.
Approximately 21,000 students earned the AP Capstone Diploma, and 11,100 students earned the AP Seminar and Research Certificate.

Unlike traditional AP subject exams with a single end-of-year assessment, AP Seminar and AP Research assessments are project-based and evaluate skills mastery through group projects, presentations and individual essays completed throughout the year. Instead of focusing on one specific academic discipline, AP Seminar and AP Research are interdisciplinary, with students encouraged to create research projects based on topics of personal interest. Students are assessed on the critical thinking, research, collaboration, time management and presentation skills needed to complete their projects.

Date Added: 9/10/2024