Four APS High Schools Recognized by the College Board

Between an ongoing investigation into alleged widespread cheating on standardized tests and the threat of losing its accreditation, the Atlanta Public Schools haven't had many reasons to celebrate.

But the district, which was put on a  last month by a third party accrediting group due to board governing issues, received some good news Wednesday: The College Board recognized four APS high schools — including  — as Advanced Placement Honor Schools.

The College Board Advanced Placement program lets high school students take college-level classes while in secondary school.

Grady High School, located in Midtown, received recognition as an AP Access and Support School and an AP S.T.E.M School.

Access and Support Schools are schools where at least 30 percent of the students taking the AP tests are African American or Hispanic and "at least 30 percent of all AP exams scores at 3 or higher." 

S.T.E.M. Schools are schools "with students testing in at least two AP math courses and two AP science courses and with at least 40 percent of the exam scores on AP math and science scoring a 3 or higher. Scoring 3 or better is considered passing on AP exams with 5 being highest achievable score."

The other APS schools recognized were:

• Carver School of Health Sciences and Research, AP Challenge School
• Benjamin E. Mays High School, AP S.T.E.M. School
• , AP Challenge School