More than 2,000 schools participated in the AP Capstone Diploma program, a project-based learning experiences valued by colleges and universities across theU.S. and around the world.

Five School District of New Berlin 2021 graduates - four at West and one at Eisenhower - earned the AP Capstone Diploma and one West student earned the AP Seminar and Research Certificate during the
2020-21 school year. The AP Capstone Diploma program helps students to develop critical thinking, research, collaboration, and presentation skills that are critical to academic success. New Berlin’s Maya Audi, Faith Derengowski, Brianna Getzloff, Chloe Phelps and Hannah Sundarajan were awarded the AP Capstone Diploma. West’s Rebekah Bonin was awarded the AP Seminar and Research Certificate.

“We proudly recognize the achievements of students who participated in all dual enrollment coursework, especially AP Seminar, AP Research, as well as the AP Capstone Diploma program,” said Kelli Kwiatkowski,
SDNB Director of Secondary Teaching and Learning. “Our AP Capstone students and teachers showed extraordinary research commitment to earn success this year while facing historic challenges.”

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. Students are increasingly participating in the AP Capstone program. More than 2,000 schools participated in the AP Capstone program worldwide during the 2020-21 school year, when approximately 11,900 students earned the AP Capstone Diploma and 7,700 earned the AP Seminar and Research Certificate.

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.

In total, the SDNB had 234 students in grades 9-12 earn scholar designations in grades 9-12: 92 earned AP Scholar recognition, granted to students who receive scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams; 42 earned AP Scholar with Honor recognition, 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; and 100 earned AP Scholar with Designation recognition, granted to students who receive 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.

The College Board Advanced Placement Program gives students the opportunity to take challenging collegelevel courses while still in high school. A 3 or higher on an AP Exam has multiple benefits for students,
including earning college credit, advanced placement, or both for successful performance on AP Exams, saving them time and money. Research shows AP students are better prepared for and more likely to enroll
and remain in college, do well in classes, and earn their degrees on time. Each exam is developed by a committee of college and university faculty and AP teachers, ensuring that AP Exams align with their high
standards.