At Durango High School, Advanced Placement courses are no longer supplied for only the most accelerated learners. Instead, all students are encouraged to explore more rigorous courses on the road to their academic or professional futures.
Advanced Placement – or AP – courses are college-level classes offered in high school that are typically taken by students in grades 10 through 12. The courses conclude with an exam, which is scored on a scale of one to five. Many U.S. colleges grant credit or advanced placement for students who score a three or above in a course.
Durango High School offers 21 AP courses across a range of subjects taught by 17 teachers, according to the district. Courses span a range of subjects, including art history, Spanish, economics and calculus.
DHS seniors Grady Hooten, Andre Craig, Mira Quayle and Betty Holcomb have each taken more than 10 AP courses, starting when they were freshmen.
Grady, who has completed 12 AP classes at DHS, said the courses help prepare students for college life.
“So, getting started during your freshman year of high school really preps you and really prepares you,” he said.
Grady plans to study engineering in college, and his dream school is California Polytechnic State University.
Betty didn’t know she wanted to study economics in college until an AP course led her to the subject, she said.
“The teachers for AP that I’ve had have generally been some of my favorite teachers, and the AP classes have been super helpful for me to kind of decide what I want to major in,” she said.
She plans to study economics and international politics at Middlebury College in Vermont.
Andre, who has completed 17 AP courses, has been accepted to the University of Texas at Austin, and also hopes to study economics.
He pursued AP courses because he wanted the academic rigor, he said, and wanted admissions offices to see his hard work reflected on college applications.
“Whether or not you get credit (that transfers to a college), I think AP classes are very important to take for getting into college, because colleges really want to see course rigor in high school, and they really want to see that you’ve challenged yourself,” he said.
Mira said the courses feel focused and serious, which she appreciates.
“You can tell that everybody kind of wants to be there, and is interested in learning, which makes it easier for me to learn,” she said.
Mira has been accepted into Princeton University, and is still exploring possible majors.
The Durango School District received a gold designation on the College Board’s School Honor Roll, according to a news release from the district – a designation awarded to schools located within the United States or Canada “whose AP programs are delivering results for students while broadening participation,” according to the College Board website.
To qualify for the distinction, 40% or more of the graduating cohort at a given school must have taken at least one AP exam during high school, 25% must have scored three or higher on at least one AP exam, and at least 2% or more of the graduating cohort must have taken five or more AP exams during high school.
The College Board is a “mission-driven, not-for-profit organization that connects students to college success,” according to the organization’s website.
Several other schools in the state also received the distinction on varying levels from bronze to platinum. Prospect Ridge Academy in Westminster and SkyView Academy in Highlands Ranch both earned platinum, Denver North High School earned gold, and Longmont High School received bronze. ThunderRidge High School, also located in Highland’s Ranch, was additionally recognized, but a level of designation was not mentioned.
According to data from the district, 65% of seniors in the class of 2025 took at least one AP exam during high school, 55% earned a score of three or higher on at least one AP exam, and 27% took five or more AP exams.
DHS Principal John Hoerl said in a district release that AP courses have been shifted from exclusive opportunities for advanced students to schoolwide offerings.
“We know the research supports students' exposure to college-level curriculum will help support their success in the future,” he said. “For this reason, we knew we wanted to expand those opportunities for our kids.”
According to Hoerl, more than 500 students took over 900 AP exams last year, and had an 86% pass rate – the “highest in quite some time.”
AP courses can also help students save money on higher education, Hoerl said.
According to Hoerl, when AP credits are combined with concurrent enrollment, DHS families are able to save around $7 million in college tuition costs in a single school year.
While the workload can be demanding, Mira said students shouldn’t be afraid to sign up.
“I feel like there's a misconception that it’s super hard to take an AP class, but I almost would say that they’re easier than some of the regular level courses, because the teacher is usually super invested in your success,” she said. “... A lot of kids are scared to take AP classes, but I don’t think they should be.”
epond@durangoherald.com
