New Berlin Eisenhower and West were two of just nine Wisconsin public high schools to earn Gold level Advanced Placement School Honor Roll recognition, the AP program announced this week.

The AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools whose AP programs are delivering results for students while broadening access. Schools can earn this recognition annually based on criteria that reflect a commitment to increasing college-going culture, providing opportunities for students to earn college credit, and maximizing college readiness.

In total, 4,570 schools—which represent 30 percent of eligible high schools—were recognized on the 2023 AP School Honor Roll. A total of 914 schools (6 percent of those eligible) received the Gold level recognition. Eisenhower and West are two of only four Waukesha County high schools to achieve that mark, along with Brookfield Central and Brookfield East. Cedarburg, Gibraltar, Homestead, Hudson and Ozaukee are the other schools to reach that level statewide.

“This is an incredible achievement and a credit to this district’s dedication to the goal of ensuring that all students are college, career and life-ready when they graduate,” Superintendent Joe Garza. “Our focus is to provide the best and most robust educational experiences possible, and having a wide array of AP classes is a piece of that focus.”

The recipients represent a broad range of high schools from across the United States (including U.S. territories) and Canada. They include private, public, and charter schools; large and small student bodies; rural and urban populations; and specialized high schools, along with generalized programs.

Research shows students who take AP courses and exams are more likely to attend college and graduate on time. The students who enter four-year colleges with credit from AP accelerate their path to graduation and build confidence for college success. And even for those who don’t earn college credit, AP coursework provides early exposure to college-level work and contributes to a college going school culture.