Eight Murrah High School students from the Class of 2025 were recently recognized for their achievements in the AP Capstone Program, a two-year program for advanced students that consists of AP Seminar and AP Research. The AP Capstone program helps students develop the critical thinking, research, collaboration, and presentation skills that are critical for academic success.

*not pictured: Alex McLin

 

• Aynecia Gardner, Sabrea Jordan, and Tracey Robinson were awarded the AP Capstone Diploma™. To earn the AP Capstone Diploma, students must receive a score of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research and on 4 additional AP Exams.

• Josannah Clay, Kaylynn Hundley, Gabrielle Johnson, Hannah King, and Alex McLin were awarded the AP Seminar and Research Certificate™. To earn the certificate, students must earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research.

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 specific academic discipline, AP Seminar and AP Research are interdisciplinary: students are empowered 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.

Students are increasingly participating in the AP Capstone program worldwide. Jackson Public Schools and Murrah High School have been at the forefront of these relatively new courses, beginning the program in the 2018-2019 school year and graduating their first class with AP Capstone Diplomas in 2022. In 2025, fewer than 100 students in Mississippi were eligible for the AP Capstone Diploma or AP Research and Seminar Certificate.

Murrah’s AP Capstone program instructors are Dr. Heather Green, Mrs. Sarah Ballard, and Mr. Micah Everson. “We are so proud of these students not only for conducting their individual research projects, but also for achieving success across the spectrum of AP courses,” said Murrah’s instructors. “All students who take on the challenge of the AP Capstone Program enter their college experience with the advantage of already having performed independent and original research. These eight who earned the AP Capstone Diploma or Certificate, moreover, have shown that they have truly excelled in developing and researching their independent projects and communicating their research through a written paper and oral presentation. The College Board holds those papers and presentations to a high standard for students to earn the certificate and diploma.”

Including AP Seminar and Research, Murrah High School offered 20 AP courses in the 2024-2025 school year, with over 160 students taking at least one AP exam.