St. John Paul II School Class of 2025 is proud to have three students who earned the AP Capstone Diploma. Congratulations to Nicholas Castano, Jack Melanson, and Shea Ryan on this milestone achievement. The AP Capstone Diploma program helps students develop critical thinking, research, collaboration, and presentation skills critical for academic success.
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 of their choice. Approximately 21,000 students nationwide earned the AP Capstone Diploma during the 2023-2024 school year.
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 single academic discipline, AP Seminar and AP research are interdisciplinary: Students are encouraged to create research projects based on topics of personal interest. Students are assessed on the critical thinking, research, collaboration, time management, and presentation skills needed to complete their projects.
We proudly recognize the achievements of students who participated in the AP Capstone Diploma program,” said Mona Lisa Valentino, Assistant Head of School Grades 9-12. “Our AP Capstone students and teachers showed extraordinary commitment. The students’ achievements will serve them well after high school.”
College Board’s Advanced Placement Program (AP) gives students the opportunity to take challenging college-level courses while still in high school. Earning a score of 3 or higher on an AP exam has multiple benefits for students, including earning college credit, advance placement in college courses, or both, 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.
