Several APS High Schools Recognized

La Cueva, Albuquerque High, Early College Academy, Eldorado, Sandia and West Mesa honored for helping students earn college credits.

Six APS high schools have been named to the 2024 Advanced Placement Program School Honor Roll, earning silver and bronze distinctions.

The AP program allows students to earn college credit by scoring a 3 or above on AP course exams.

The AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools whose AP programs are delivering results for students while broadening access. The College Board bestows the recognition annually based on criteria that reflect a commitment to increasing college-going culture, providing opportunities for students to earn college credit and maximizing college readiness. 

La Cueva High School was awarded silver distinction. Fifty-one percent of seniors at La Cueva took at least one AP exam during high school, 40% scored a 3 or higher on at least one AP exam, and 18% took five or more AP exams.

Albuquerque High, Early College Academy, Eldorado High, Sandia High and West Mesa High received bronze.

• At Albuquerque High, 43% of seniors took an AP exam, 31% earned college credit, and 5% took five or more AP exams.  
• Half of the seniors at Early College Academy took the AP exam, with 36% earning college credit and 4% taking five or more exams.
• Eldorado had 41% of its seniors take an AP exam during high school, 29% earned college credit and 8% took five or more AP exams.
• Half of the seniors at Sandia have taken the AP exam, with 28% earning college credit and 6% taking five or more AP exams,
• And at West Mesa, 78% of seniors have taken an AP exam, with 29% earning college credit and 9% taking five or more AP exams. 

“AP gives students (the) opportunity to engage with college-level work, to earn college credit and placement, and to potentially boost their grade point averages,” said Trevor Packer, who heads the AP program. “The schools that have earned this distinction are proof that it is possible to expand access to these college-level courses and still drive strong performance – they represent the best of AP.”

Among the four goals the APS Board of Education adopted last year was a post-secondary readiness goal that, among other things, calls for the district to increase the percentage of students who take two or more AP courses. 

In 2024, nearly 5,200 AP exams were administered to APS students, 2,736 of which resulted in college credit.