2 Worcester High Schools Recognized For College-Level Courses, Supporting Student Success

WORCESTER, MA — Two high schools in Worcester have been named to the College Board’s 2025 Advanced Placement School Honor Roll, which recognizes schools doing work to welcome students into college-level courses and support them on the path to success.

Doherty Memorial High School and University Park Campus School were recognized for meeting benchmarks tied to college readiness, including student participation in AP exams, exam performance and early engagement in advanced coursework.

The AP School Honor Roll evaluates schools using three measures: College Culture, which looks at participation; College Credit, which measures performance; and College Optimization, which tracks early and sustained engagement in AP courses.

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At Doherty Memorial High School, 49 percent of seniors took at least one AP exam, meeting the Bronze benchmark for College Culture. The school also earned Bronze recognition for College Credit, with 29 percent of seniors earning a score of three or higher on at least one AP exam.

For College Optimization, Doherty earned a Platinum distinction, which is the highest level, with 16 percent of seniors completing five or more AP exams, including at least one taken in ninth or 10th grade.

University Park Campus School earned Gold distinctions in both College Culture and College Credit. A total of 73 percent of seniors took at least one AP exam, and 39 percent earned a score of three or higher on at least one exam. The school also met the Bronze benchmark for College Optimization, according to College Board data.

“While we celebrate the AP School Honor Roll recognition earned by Doherty Memorial High School and University Park Campus School, we are also encouraged by the progress taking place across Worcester Public Schools,” Superintendent Brian E. Allen said in a statement. “The achievements of Burncoat, Claremont, North, South, and Worcester Technical high schools reflect a districtwide commitment to expanding access to Advanced Placement coursework and building college readiness for all students.”

Five other Worcester public high schools met one or more AP School Honor Roll benchmarks, according to the district. Those schools were:

• Burncoat High School
  • College Culture (49 percent) and College Optimization (10 percent)
• Worcester Technical High School
  • College Culture (44 percent) and College Optimization (4 percent)
• Claremont Academy
  • College Culture (71 percent)
• North High School
  • College Optimization (6 percent)
• South High Community School
  • College Optimization (15 percent)

The district said the recognitions reflect continued efforts to expand access to Advanced Placement coursework across Worcester Public Schools.

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