Katy ISD Celebrates its AP Capstone Diploma Recipients

(KATY ISD) - At Katy ISD, 106 students will have not one, but two high school diplomas after earning the AP Capstone Diploma. The AP Capstone Diploma program helps students develop the critical thinking, research, collaboration and presentation skills that are critical for academic success.

Taylor High School AP Capstone Diploma Recipients Mariam Elsharkawy, Minkyu Lim and Melissa Huang.

“We proudly recognize the achievements of our Katy ISD students who participated in the AP Capstone Diploma program,” said Joan Otten, director of GT & Advanced Academics. “Our AP Capstone students and teachers showed extraordinary commitment while facing historic challenges. This meaningful college readiness program will serve our students well after high school.”

To receive the AP Capstone Diploma, students must earn scores of three or higher in AP Seminar, AP Research, and on four additional AP exams. To receive the AP Seminar and Research Certificate, students must earn scores of three or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research. More than 2,200 schools participated in the AP Capstone program worldwide during the 2021-22 school year. Approximately 14,100 students earned the AP Capstone Diploma, and 9,200 earned the AP Seminar and Research Certificate.

Tompkins High School AP Capstone Diploma Recipients Kaushik Jayaprakash, Ahana Bhat, Bhavika Kamma and Navya Kavuri.

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 where students are empowered 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.

The College Board Advanced Placement Program gives students the opportunity to take challenging college-level courses while still in high school. AP exams, with scores of three or higher, have multiple benefits including earning college credit, advanced placement as well as saving students time and money.