At the CNMI Public School System, four students have earned the AP Capstone Diploma and three students have earned the AP Seminar and Research Certificate during the 2024-25 school year. The AP Capstone Diploma program helps students develop critical thinking, research, collaboration, and presentation skills that are essential to academic and career success.
“We proudly recognize the achievements of students who participated in the AP Capstone Diploma program,” said Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho, Commissioner of Education “With the help of dedicated teachers, our AP Capstone students explored their passions through scholarly research in an impactful, multi-year program. This meaningful college readiness program will serve our students well after high school.”
To earn the AP Capstone Diploma, students must earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar, AP Research, and on four additional Advanced Placement (AP) Exams of their choice. To receive the AP Seminar and Research Certificate, students must earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research.
During the 2024-25 school year, more than 160,000 students in over 3,500 schools worldwide participated in AP Capstone. Of these, approximately 27,650 students earned the AP Capstone Diploma, and 12,430 students earned the AP Seminar and Research Certificate.
AP Seminar and AP Research assessments are project-based and evaluate skills mastery through group projects, presentations, and individual essays completed throughout the year. AP Seminar and AP Research are interdisciplinary. Students are encouraged to create research projects based on topics of personal interest and are assessed on the critical thinking, research, collaboration, time management, and presentation skills needed to complete their projects.
This past school year, AP Capstone students pursued research topics deeply connected to their personal interests and lived experiences. Award recipients explored timely and diverse topics, including:
· The impact of Instagram on validation-seeking behaviors among students
· The ecological relationship between the weevil Acythopeus burkhartorum and the invasive plant Coccinia grandis
· Student perspectives on a schoolwide Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) program following the COVID-19 pandemic
· Strategies for improving LGBTQ+ inclusivity in high school classrooms
AP Research teacher Dr. Dora Miura, SSHS, shared that students’ topics are entirely driven by their personal passions and curiosity. “All students are free to choose any topic that they deem important to themselves,” she explained. Students begin exploring ideas as early as May, carrying three potential topics into the summer while reading scholarly articles to refine their direction. “Many times, their readings surprise them and lead them to something completely unexpected,” Miura added. She emphasized that the rigor of AP Research equips students with skills that extend far beyond high school: “Academic research requires resilience and grit. Things don’t always go your way, and students must learn to adapt. They grow into critical thinkers who are able to question feasibility, evaluate information, and discern credible sources.”
The College Board AP Program 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, advanced 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.
