Bellefontaine High School is proud to be one of approximately 2,000 schools participating in the AP Capstone Diploma program, a project-based learning experience valued by colleges and universities across the U.S. and around the world.

During the 2020-2021 school year, 5 BHS students are the first in school history to earn the AP Capstone Diploma and 6 have earned the AP Seminar and Research Certificate.

The AP Capstone Diploma program is in its second year at BHS and helps students to develop critical thinking, research, collaboration, and presentation skills that are critical to academic success.

“We are very proud of our students who took on the challenge of participating in the AP Capstone Diploma program. These students did not shy away from this academic rigor and we are ecstatic about their success,” said Gifted Coordinator Angie Horvath. “Our AP Capstone students and teachers showed extraordinary commitment while facing historic challenges. This is a meaningful college readiness program that will serve our students well after high school.”

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.

Unlike traditional AP subject exams with a single end-of-year assessment, AP Seminar and AP Research assessments are project based and evaluate skills mastery through group projects, presentations, and individual essays completed throughout the year. Instead of focusing on one specific academic discipline, AP Seminar and AP Research are interdisciplinary: students are empowered to create research projects based on topics of personal interest and they are assessed on the critical thinking, research, collaboration, time management, and presentation skills needed to complete their projects.

Of the students who participated in the AP Capstone Diploma program at Bellefontaine High School:

- Five were awarded the AP Capstone Diploma by earning scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar, AP Research, and on 4 additional AP Exams. They are 2021 graduates Levon Howard, Connor Rose, Samantha Starkey, Madison Taylor, and Hunter Tolson.