Pickens High School receives honors in both AP STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Achievement and AP STEM.
On February 27, 2024, State School Superintendent Richard Woods named Advanced Placement (AP) Honor Schools from 99 school districts for 2024.
State School Superintendent Richard Woods says, “I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the 2024 AP Honor Schools. I commend them for their hard work to build strong Advanced Placement programs and, as a result, provide high-quality opportunities for Georgia students. Additionally, I am thrilled that the number of AP Honor Schools and school districts continues to rise each year – a testament to the commitment of Georgia public education to expand opportunities for all Georgia students."
The 2024 AP Honor Schools are named in eight categories based on the results of 2023 AP courses and exams.
Pickens High School received honors in both AP STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Achievement and AP STEM.
Requirements for honor in AP STEM Schools include a minimum of five students testing in at least four AP STEM courses, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Statistics, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, AP Physics 1, AP Physics 2, AP Physics C, AP Computer Science A, AP Computer Science Principles, and a minimum of 25 exams administered. Additionally, to be honored as an AP STEM Achievement Schools, you must meet the above definition and have at least 50% of all AP STEM exams earning scores of 3 or higher.
"We are very proud of our teachers and our students,” said Dr. Travis Thomas, superintendent of Pickens County Schools. “Not only are we offering these rigorous AP classes to help prepare our high school students for college, but with the AP STEM Achievement distinction, a majority of our students are also scoring well enough on these incredibly difficult AP exams to earn college credit. This is a recognition that less than 25% of all Georgia public high schools earn. Way to go, Dragons!"
AP exams are administered by the College Board, which also administers the SAT. AP courses are one of several ways Georgia students can access college-level learning at the high school level; students who receive a 3, 4, or 5 on an AP exam may receive college credit. The Georgia Department of Education began recognizing AP Honor Schools in 2008.