Huntington High outlines expanded AP offerings, Capstone program and rising enrollment

Dr. Ricky Papandrea, director of school counseling and testing for the Huntington Union Free School District, outlined Huntington High School’s Advanced Placement program at a parent workshop, saying the high school offers more than 30 AP courses and is expanding student participation.

Papandrea said AP courses at Huntington mirror introductory college classes and that students are required to take the AP exam at the end of each course to be eligible for college credit. "If students do well on the exam, they can earn college credit," he said, and he advised families to use the College Board AP credit policy search to confirm how individual colleges award credit.

The presentation emphasized outcomes research: Papandrea cited studies he said show students who score 3 or higher on AP exams are "6 to 8 percentage points more likely to finish college in 4 years" and that AP students enroll in college immediately after high school at higher rates (he gave 75 percent for AP students versus 60 percent for non-AP peers). He framed AP as preparation for college rigor and as a way to strengthen college applications and scholarship eligibility.

Papandrea described the AP Capstone curriculum — AP Seminar and AP Research — and the two levels of recognition it provides: earning a Seminar and Research certificate for scoring 3+ in both courses, and the AP Capstone diploma for students who also score 3+ on an additional four AP exams. "This is something that's very desirable that colleges like to see," he said.

On honors and recent growth, Papandrea reported that in the 2425 school year Huntington High had 175 students receive AP scholar awards: 83 AP Scholars, 33 AP Scholars with honors, 58 AP Scholars with distinction, 11 AP Capstone diplomas and four AP Seminar and Research certificates. He said the school earned a silver designation on the 2324 AP Honor Roll and that, with higher participation in 2425, he expects Huntington to be considered for gold.

Papandrea listed course availability and grade-level guidance: AP Computer Science Principles and AP Human Geography are open to ninth graders; AP World History is typically taken in grade 10; AP Calculus AB/BC and AP Statistics are aimed at grades 11–12; and language and arts courses are offered at the appropriate upper-grade levels. He noted that AP weighting at Huntington is 1.1 and that some AP courses can satisfy New York State graduation requirements (for example, AP World History can satisfy Global History II in grade 10).

For families, Papandrea described the evening’s logistics: 16 breakout rooms staffed by teachers and some students, three 20-minute sessions so visitors can attend up to three rooms, and a QR code and printed packet listing room locations. He said the district will post the curriculum guide and presentation materials on the Huntington Union Free School District website and that the curriculum guide for the 2627 school year will be posted by Nov. 1.

Papandrea encouraged students who feel academically prepared to discuss AP or dual-enrollment options with their teachers and counselors, noting that AP courses can help students pursue majors and careers by providing early exposure to college-level work. He closed by thanking attendees and inviting them to the breakout sessions.