Northshore School District has been named to the Advanced Placement (AP) District Honor Roll for the fourth consecutive year and is one of two school districts in Washington state and one of nine in the U.S. and to be on the AP Honor Roll every year since it was established.

Since 2011, Northshore School District has increased the number of students participating in AP by 7 percent while maintaining a 70 percent rate of students receiving a qualifying score of three or better on all AP exams.

The majority of U.S. colleges and universities grant college credit or advanced placement for a score of three or above on AP exams. This translates into tens of thousands of dollars saved by Northshore families on college tuition. More importantly, many more students are better prepared for the rigors of college level work through their participation in AP courses in high schools.

The AP District Honor Roll was started by the College Board, the parent organization for

AP, four years ago. Inclusion on the list is based on the following criteria: Increase in participation in/access to AP by at least 4 percent in large districts, at least 6 percent in medium districts and at least 11 percent in small districts; Increase or maintain the percentage of exams taken by African American, Hispanic/Latino and American Indian/Alaska native student; and Improve performance levels when comparing the percentage of students in 2013 scoring a three or higher to those in 2011, unless the district has already attained a performance level at which more that 70 percent of its AP students are scoring a three or higher.

The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program (AP) enables students to pursue college-level studies while still in high school. AP provides willing and academically prepared students with the opportunity to earn college credit, advanced placement or both. Taking AP courses also demonstrates to college admission officers that students have sought the most rigorous curriculum available to them.