North Oconee and Oconee County High Honored for Advanced Placement Excellence

and have been recognized by the state for excellence in Advanced Placement performance.

Oconee County Schools Superintendent John Jackson broke the news Monday at a meeting of the Board of Education, and the official news release came on Tuesday from State Superintendent of Schools John Barge.

Both schools were named 2012 AP Merit Schools, meaning each had at least 20 percent of their students taking AP exams, and at least half of those exams were scored at a 3 or higher.

Advanced Placement classes and exams are administered by the College Board, which also administers the SAT. These classes offer rigorous, college-level learning options to high school students. Students who receive a 3, 4 or 5 on AP exams may receive college credit.

Each Oconee high school was also recognized as an AP STEM School and an AP STEM Achievement School. In order to receive these designations, schools must have students testing in at least two AP math courses and two AP science courses, and at least 40 percent of those exams scoring a 3 or higher.

"There's a lot to be proud of, and we want to recognize our two high schools as well as the other schools that feed into our two high schools and prepare those students, " Jackson said.

Jackson's statement was echoed by Chairman David Weeks.

"Congratulations to both high schools, that's a very big honor and we're awfully proud of ya'll," Weeks said. "And to all the middle school and elementary principals that are getting students ready for high school."

In November, , one of 367 across 45 states in the U.S. and six provinces in Canada to earn the distinction.