Colquitt County High School (CCHS) has achieved historic high performance and participation metrics on its 2026 Advanced Placement (AP) exams, highlighted by significant growth in passing scores and 69 overall AP Scholar designations awarded by the College Board.
Record Participation and Academic Achievement
Student engagement in the AP program expanded significantly this year, with 323 total students taking 516 AP exams—an increase of 64 students and 115 exams compared to the previous year. Along with higher overall participation, student achievement rose to record levels:
- Passing Rate: 67% of CCHS AP students earned a passing score of 3 or higher, reflecting a 9-percentage-point increase year-over-year.
- Qualifying Scores: Students earned scores of 3 or higher on 340 individual exams (66% of all exams taken), up from 254 qualifying exam scores in 2025.
- Outperforming Global Averages: CCHS students surpassed global pass-rate averages in seven subjects: AP Calculus AB (+21 points above global average), AP United States History (+12), AP Precalculus (+9), AP Macroeconomics (+9), AP English Language/Composition (+8), AP World History (+6), AP Environmental Science (+4), and AP Chemistry (+2).
- Subject Improvements: Seven subjects showed notable score improvements over the prior year, led by AP World History (+34 points), AP English Language/Composition (+17 points), and AP United States History (+17 points).
“We are extremely proud of our students and teachers for these record-breaking AP results. More students accepted the challenge of taking rigorous courses, and their hard work—combined with the dedication and support of our teachers—led to tremendous growth and achievement. This is another great example of what our Packers can accomplish when they are given opportunities, held to high expectations, and supported along the way.” — Dr. Chris Merritt, Principal.
2026 AP Scholar Honorees
The College Board recognizes high school students who have demonstrated outstanding college-level achievement through AP Scholar Awards. A total of 69 Colquitt County High School students and recent graduates earned honors across three distinct categories:
AP Scholars with Distinction
Granted to students who earn an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.
- Current Seniors: Kathryn Bennett, Meghann Breedlove, Anna Dekle, Kristian Garcia, Zane Marquis, Aarav Patel, Luz Perez Lorenzo, Lance Ponder, Davis Reed, and Judson Taylor
- Recent Graduates: Emily Bius, Jack Kirksey, Willis McCrainie, Bawitin Ram, Joshua Scroggins, Jaden Taylor, Maximiliano Torres, Gabriel Torres-Hernandez, and Ethan Yingling
AP Scholars with Honor
Granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams.
- Current 11th Graders: Paige Autrey and Kade Hopper
- Current Seniors: Dario Corona, Jacob Medders, Liam Patterson, Lynzie Raymond, and Sadie Wetherington
- Recent Graduates: Carissa Bryan, Maggie Chen, Carson Connell, Grace Hernandez, Alana Keigans, Rane Kusek, Andrew Perdew, Essekiell Rios, Sadie Saunders, and Harrison Sims
AP Scholars
Granted to students who receive scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams.
- Current 11th Graders: Katherine Autrey, Michelle Chen, Cindy Jo Cooper, and Emma Lofton
- Current 12th Graders: Jackson Cato, Emma Croft, Joshua Cruz, Jackson Edwards, Cora Goines, Sara Guevara, Lily Jackson, Nathan Kirksey, Brandy La, Noe Luna, Clara Newton, Stephen Purvis, Reese Web, and Benjamin Yingling
- Recent Graduates: Guadalupe Aguilar-Moctezuma, Parker Anderson, Angel Berry, Sam Brogden, Jaylah Dunbar, Michael Hall, James Hunter, Helen Huynh, Efren Martinez-Mendoza, Jack Taunton, Sanjana Thakor, Layla Thompson, Lan To, Bailey Truett, and Demar Witherspoon
“AP courses do more than prepare students for a one-day exam. They build the critical-thinking skills and confidence our students need long after graduation. Our teachers rose to the challenge of guiding more students through advanced coursework than ever before, and our students showed that they can meet even the highest standard when given quality instruction and support.” — Dr. Allen Edwards, Chief Academic Officer.