SOUTH WHITLEY — The Indiana Department of Education announced today the 2016 Advanced Placement Award Recipients. To be selected, schools must have at least 25 percent of their 2016 graduating class receiving a 3, 4, or 4 on an AP exam. Whitko High School was honored for having 27 percent receiving the desired grade.

“Research tells us time and again taking and passing AP courses prepares students for the rigors of the college classroom,” said Dr. Jennifer McCormick, Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction. “I am pleased with the dedication these schools and their educators have shown in providing a head start into higher education for their students. I applaud the success of each student who worked hard to study and pass their advanced placement courses and exams.”

AP is a research-backed method to facilitate student participation and success through delivery of college-level courses and corresponding exams in the high school setting. Qualified students who pass AP courses enroll in college at higher rates than other groups of students, require significantly less remediation, and have higher average first year grade point averages and credit hours earned than other groups of students. For the 2015-16 school year, 11,904 graduating students passed at least one AP exam with a 3 or better. This is an increase of six percent over the year prior, and an increase of 114 percent in the past 10 years.