East Aurora High to offer AP Capstone Diploma program

East Aurora High School has become one of approximately 1,800 schools worldwide to implement the AP Capstone Diploma program, an innovative program that allows students to develop the skills that matter most for college success, such as research, collaboration, and communication.

The program consists of two courses taken in sequence: AP Seminar and AP Research.

Students who score a 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research and on four additional AP Exams of their choosing earn the AP Capstone Diploma.

This signifies outstanding academic achievement and attainment of college-level academic and research skills. Students who score a 3 or higher in both AP Seminar and AP Research (but not on four additional AP Exams) earn the AP Seminar and Research Certificate.

East High will begin offering AP Seminar in the fall of 2019.

"We are committed to providing the best opportunities available in the nation to our students," said East Aurora School District 131 superintendent Dr. Jennifer Norrell. "We fully plan to better prepare greater numbers of our students in earlier grades to be able to take advantage these opportunities."

In AP Seminar, typically taken in 10th or 11th grade, students choose and evaluate complex topics through multiple lenses; identify credibility and bias in sources; and develop arguments in support of a recommendation. AP Seminar is a project-based learning course. Official AP Seminar assessments include research reports, written arguments, and presentations completed during the academic year.

"We're looking forward to having these two new AP Capstone courses for the students of East Aurora," said Brad Wieher, director of literacy and interventions for District 131. "AP Seminar and AP Research coursework is designed to build the key academic reading and writing skills our students need to be successful not only in high school, but in college and in their careers, all while earning college credit."

In the subsequent AP Research course, students design, execute, present, and defend a yearlong research-based investigation on a topic of individual interest. They build on skills developed in AP Seminar by learning how to understand research methodology; employ ethical research practices; and collect, analyze, and synthesize information to contribute to academic research. Like AP Seminar, AP Research is a project-based course. Each student's official AP Research score is based on their academic paper, presentation, and oral defense.

"We're proud to offer AP Capstone, which enables students and teachers to focus on topics of their choice in great depth," said Trevor Packer, senior vice president for AP and instruction at the College Board. "This provides terrific opportunities for students to develop the ability to write and present their work effectively, individually and in groups - the very skills college professors want their students to possess."

In partnership with the higher education community, the College Board developed AP Capstone so students can practice skills that serve them well in college and career. Colleges and universities have voiced their support for the program.

"We are excited more schools are offering the AP Capstone Diploma program," said Kedra Ishop, vice provost for enrollment management at the University of Michigan. "We believe the research, collaboration, and presentation skills taught in the two courses will be valuable to students throughout their academic and professional careers."