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Harbor High reports rising AP participation, moves to digital exams; announces Distinguished Scholar banquet
Summary
Harbor High reported increased Advanced Placement participation and described preparations for the College Board's digital exams; the school will recognize 52 distinguished scholars at a first-time banquet.
Harbor High School's AP coordinator told the Springdale School Board on March 11 that AP participation and exam-taking have risen districtwide and that the school has completed technical and logistical upgrades to deliver the College Board's new digital exams.
Margaret Robinson, AP coordinator and assistant principal at Harbor High, said districtwide AP participation among grades 10–12 is on an upward trend. She reported that 51 percent of Springdale students who took AP exams last year scored a 3 or higher — the College Board threshold commonly used for college credit — and that Harbor High's results were stronger: last year Harbor had about 799 AP students and administered roughly 1,500 exams, with 70 percent of Harbor students scoring 3 or higher.
Robinson described changes for 2025 testing: most exams will be fully digital and taken on Chromebooks; a few courses (for example certain lab-based subjects) will use a hybrid format where multiple-choice sections are digital but free-response portions use a paper booklet. Robinson said the school piloted three digital tests last year and worked with technology and maintenance staff to expand Wi-Fi and electrical capacity in Harbor's auxiliary gym to accommodate 200–250 simultaneous testers.
Robinson outlined exam logistics that include a "great big desk move" to set the aux gym for testing, a testing schedule split across two weeks in May, and provisions for students who require accommodations such as extended time or separate rooms for medical needs. She noted that digital portfolios and other non-exam AP submissions are due April 30.
The board was also invited to Harbor High's inaugural Distinguished Scholar banquet. Robinson said 52 seniors met at least one of the criteria for recognition; highlights included four National Merit finalists, 31 seniors with a composite ACT score above 30, 27 AP Scholars with Distinction, and 28 students qualifying for an "AP excellence medallion" for taking 10 or more AP classes. The banquet will include hooding of distinguished scholars as part of graduation regalia.
Board members thanked staff for the technology upgrades and the planning required to administer the new digital exams.
