State School Superintendent Richard Woods has officially named Colquitt County High School (CCHS) as a 2026 Georgia AP Honor School. The school was recognized in three prestigious categories: AP Access and Support School, AP STEM School, and AP STEM Achievement School.
These distinctions, awarded by the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE), highlight CCHS's commitment to providing a rigorous academic environment while ensuring students from all backgrounds have the opportunity to succeed in college-level coursework.
Historic Achievement in STEM
This year's recognition marks a significant milestone for Colquitt County High School. While CCHS has a long-standing history of being named an AP Access and Support School, the dual designation as an AP STEM School and an AP STEM Achievement School reflects a growing excellence in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
A review of previous years indicates that CCHS has reached new heights in its STEM offerings and performance. While the school has consistently expanded its AP program, reaching the "STEM Achievement" status—which requires not only high participation but also that at least 50% of STEM exams earn a passing score of 3 or higher—demonstrates a substantial leap in academic outcomes compared to years past.
Statements of Excellence
"The growth we've seen over the last few years in our AP program is a testament to the hard work happening in our classrooms every day," said Dr. Allen Edwards, Chief Academic Officer. "I'm incredibly proud of the students, teachers, and staff who make Colquitt a leader in academic excellence."
CCHS Principal Dr. Chris Merrit stated, "We are proud that our students are taking advantage of these rigorous course options and finding success in them. This is just one of the ways we are helping our students meet their Packer +1 goal of being enrolled in post-secondary education, enlisted in the military, or employed in a meaningful career."
Data-Driven Success
The 2026 honors are based on the 2025 AP courses and exams.
- Total AP Exams Completed: 401
- Total AP Exams Passed with a Score of 3 or higher: 149
(58% of total exams taken). This is an increase of 28% since 2021. - AP STEM Success (Exams Passed with a Score of 3 or Higher)
- Environmental Sciences – 29 test takers and 69% pass rate
- Chemistry – 11 test takers and a 73% pass rate
- Biology - 18 test takers and a 61% pass rate
- Calculus – 24 test takers and 79% pass rate
About the Designations:
AP Access and Support Schools: Schools with at least 30% of AP exams taken by students who identify as African American and/or Hispanic, and 30% of all AP exams earning scores of 3 or higher.
AP STEM Schools: Schools with a minimum of five students testing in at least four AP STEM courses (AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Statistics, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, AP Physics 1, AP Physics 2, AP Physics C, AP Computer Science A, or AP Computer Science Principles).
AP STEM Achievement Schools: AP STEM schools where at least 50% of AP STEM exams earn scores of 3 or higher.
For more information on the Colquitt County School District and its academic programs, please visit www.colquitt.k12.ga.us.