NEWARK, N.J. – Three Newark Public Schools high schools have been recognized on the AP® School Honor Roll for the 2024–2025 school year, marking a significant milestone in the district’s efforts to expand access to rigorous coursework and strengthen college readiness.

The three Newark high schools that have been recognized by the College Board are:

• Technology High School – Gold
• American History High School – Bronze
• Newark School of Data Science & Information Technology – Bronze

“This recognition is a clear sign that our 10-Year Strategic Plan is delivering results,” said Superintendent León. “We are intentionally expanding access to Advanced Placement coursework, building a strong college-going culture, and supporting students early and often. Seeing Technology High School earn Gold status while American History and Data Science join the Honor Roll underscores that academic excellence is taking root in our high schools.”

The AP School Honor Roll features four levels of distinction – Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze – based on research-backed measures tied to student participation and performance in Advanced Placement coursework.

To earn AP School Honor Roll recognition, schools must meet benchmarks across three key indicators for their most recent graduating class:

College Culture: Percentage of graduates who took an AP exam in high school.

40% = Bronze, 50% = Silver, 65% = Gold, 80% = Platinum  

College Credit: Percentage of graduates who score 3 or more on an AP exam in high school. 25% = Bronze, 30% = Silver, 35% = Gold, 50% = Platinum 

College Optimization: Percentage of graduates who took an 5 or more AP exams in high school, with at least one exam taken in the 9^th or 10^th grade.

2% = Bronze, 5% = Silver, 10% = Gold, 15% = Platinum

“This achievement reflects the collective efforts of our students, teachers, school leaders, and families,” said Hasani K. Council, President of the Newark Board of Education. “Tripling the number of schools on the AP School Honor Roll in a single year, and earning a Gold designation in the process, demonstrates our district’s unwavering commitment to equity, rigor, and opportunity. We are proud of the progress being made and excited to continue building pathways to college success for even more Newark students.”

According to the College Board, students who take AP courses and exams are more likely to attend college and graduate on time. Those who earn college credit through AP often accelerate their progress toward a degree, while all AP students benefit from early exposure to college-level academic expectations and a strong academic culture