Oak Lawn Community High School Students Rack Up Strongest AP Test Scores In 5 Years

OAK LAWN, IL—Oak Lawn Community High School students participated in the 2026 Advanced Placement exams, racking up their best test scores in five years. A total of 447 students participated in the program, demonstrating their readiness for college-level coursework and earning valuable college credit.

"Outstanding AP results don't happen by accident. They are the product of hundreds of daily decisions by our team as they build relationships, plan engaging lessons, collaborate with colleagues, and maintain high expectations even when AP content becomes challenging," OLCHS principal Dr. Lauren May said. "Our students are committed to building skills for the future, and these results show their hard work is paying off."

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OLCHS students took close to 900 AP exams. The school's overall pass rate of students scoring a 3 or higher on the exams was 72 percent. This is an increase of 8 percentage points from last school year. Additionally, 54 students earned 75 perfect "5" scores.

"This year's results reflect the strongest performance by OLCHS students in the past five years, with improvements in pass rates, an increase in perfect scores, and more students participating in the assessments," May said. "Advanced Placement courses provide students with valuable opportunities to build the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to succeed in college, careers, and beyond."

During the 2025-2026 school year, many OLCHS students enrolled in one or more AP courses. Of these, 78 students earned the prestigious AP Scholar Award, with 34 achieving AP Scholar with Honor and an additional 32 achieving AP Scholar with Distinction. These numbers represent a 30 percent increase in AP Scholar awards from the prior year.

The College Board's Advanced Placement Program provides students with the opportunity to take rigorous college-level courses while still in high school, potentially earning college credit and advanced placement, according to the College Board.

~Contributed by Jamie Atkus, OLCHS Curriculum Director