Boise, ID -- 10/11/2018 -- In the Boise School District, sixteen (16) students have earned the Advanced Placement® (AP®) Capstone Diploma, as well as the AP Seminar and Research Certificate™ during the 2017-18 school year. AP Capstone™ is a diploma program from the
College Board based on two yearlong AP courses: AP Seminar and AP Research. Both courses prepare students for college and career success through the development of critical thinking, academic research, collaboration, presentation, and time management skills.
The Boise District students are among approximately 4,800 students worldwide who earned the AP Capstone Diploma and 2,400 students worldwide who earned the AP Seminar and Research Certificate during the 2017-18 school year.
“We are proud to recognize the outstanding achievements of these students who participated in the AP Capstone Diploma program, and we continue to look forward to providing students with opportunities to explore their passions while building college-level academic and collaboration skills,” said
Dr. Don Coberly, superintendent, Boise School District.
During the 2017-18 school year, Boise High was the first high school in the Boise District to participate in the AP Capstone Diploma program. This school year, the program has been expanded to all four of the District's traditional high schools - Boise, Borah, Capital & Timberline.
"We are pleased to be able to offer the AP Capstone program to more students so they are better prepared to succeed in the future," added Dr. Coberly.
The AP Capstone program provides student-centered learning while incorporating performance-based assessments. Throughout the program, AP Seminar and AP Research students study a variety of topics across multiple disciplines and have the flexibility to choose topics of personal interest to show mastery of critical thinking, research, and presentation skills. Official AP Seminar and AP Research assessments also go beyond a single AP Exam to include academic papers, multimedia presentations, and defense of findings.
To receive the AP Capstone Diploma™, students must earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar, AP Research, and on four additional AP Exams. To receive the AP Seminar and Research Certificate, students must earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research. Boise High School was among over 1,100 schools worldwide that participated in the AP Capstone program during the 2017-18 school year.
At Boise High School, students focused their
research on a range of topics, including: The Correlation Between Civic Education and Political Participation; Comparing Meditation and Exercise in Reducing Stress; The Effects of Pink Noise on High School Students' Recall Abilities; Patient Non-Compliance In Medicine: Analyzing the Development of the Patient-Physician Relationship; and A Study of the Childhood Influences Behind Political Party Affilation, to name a few.
"AP Capstone was a platform for conducting research about something of significance and interest to me; something totally unique about the world around us. I learned a lot about myself, how to communicate, where to look for research, and how to present it in a way that makes sense," said
Grace Gaddis, Boise High Class of 2019.
"I was able to collaborate with scientists and researchers in Sweden and Norway, who helped me replicate a study they had done on Pink Noise. It was really impressive that these world leading scientists even answered my emails; but they were so helpful. I learned a lot about my chosen topic, but I learned just as much about how to communicate," said
Allison Gee, Boise High Class of 2019.
"The AP Research course culminates in an academic paper of approximately 4000–5000 words (accompanied by a performance or exhibition of product where applicable) and a presentation with an oral defense," said
Sharon Hanson, AP Capstone Research Teacher, Boise High School.
“Congratulations to the AP Capstone award winners, who conduct, present, and defend academic research on topics they are passionate about,” said
Trevor Packer, College Board senior vice president of AP and Instruction. “Their ability to manage long-term projects, collaborate with teams, and deliver effective presentations will accelerate not only their academic careers, but their professional careers, as well.”
Of the Boise High students who participated in the AP Capstone Diploma Program: 16 were awarded the AP Capstone Diploma by earning scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar, AP Research, and on four additional AP Exams. In addition, these same 16 students were each awarded the AP Seminar and Research Certificate by earning scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research. The 16 students are:
