RHS is on the 2023 AP School Honor Roll

We are proud to announce that Richfield High School was named to the 2023 AP School Honor Roll! The AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools with AP programs that are delivering results and broadening access for students.

Schools can earn the Honor Roll recognition annually based on their ability to increase their school’s college-going culture, to provide opportunities for students to earn college credit, and maximize college readiness. The AP School Honor Roll offers four levels of distinction: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum.

Richfield High School received the following awards based on the class of 2023:

• Gold Award for College Culture with 71% of seniors having taken one or more AP courses in high school.
• Bronze Award for College Credit with 25% of seniors scoring 3 or higher on an AP exam, making them eligible for college credit. (Note that RHS students can also earn college credit through CIS courses and PSEO.)
• Silver Award for College Optimization with 6% of seniors completing 5 or more AP exams.

Richfield High School offers:

• AP Biology 
• AP Computer Science
• AP English Language & Composition 
• AP Human Geography (including a Spanish section for DLI students)
• AP Microeconomics
• AP Psychology 
• AP Spanish Language & Culture 
• AP Spanish Literature & Culture 
• AP World History 

“We are so proud of this honor. We have steadily increased the rigor and support for our students to ensure they are able to thrive academically at Richfield High School and it is paying off,” said Principal Stacy Theien Collins. “Starting as part of Reimagine Richfield during the 2017-18 school year, students told us that they wanted more advanced course offerings, better representation in those courses, and increased opportunities to earn college credit while still in high school - and we listened. We made positive changes that directly led to the results we are seeing now. Am so proud of our students and faculty!”

In addition, Richfield High School also received the AP Access Award for providing all students the chance to participate in AP, including students from underrepresented populations.
 

We asked RHS students and alumni about their AP classes and here is some of what they had to say:

 

AP Spanish Literature & Culture was especially interesting my senior year as I was able to make many connections between that and other classes I was taking, such as CIS Intro to Literature. All of the language-based AP classes I took held a lot of crossover with other related courses, as well as history and social studies classes. It was very engaging being able to make connections across multiple subjects. I felt this enhanced the overall quality of work I was doing in these classes.

Helen Grote, Class of 2023
(AP Spanish Literature & Culture, AP Spanish Language & Culture, AP Biology, AP Microeconomics, AP English Language & Composition, AP Geography and AP World History)

 

If students want to go to college in the future, taking an AP class is a great experience to help them figure out how college courses are taught. The important things you learn in an AP class are time management, responsibility and study skills/habits.

Selome Wolde, Class of 2024
(AP Biology)

 

I am taking AP Spanish Language & Culture and I also took AP Spanish Language & Literature my junior year, both of which taught me the importance of Spanish culture and helped me to connect with my roots. Offering AP courses is important because it allows students to reach a higher understanding on a certain subject which helps prepare them for college.

Jonathan Retana, Class of 2024
(AP Spanish Language & Literature and AP Spanish Language & Culture)

 

Taking AP classes taught me the importance of communication. For learning in an AP class, it is really important to talk to everyone you can and get every perspective to ensure you have a full understanding.

Aurelia Defor, Class of 2025
(AP Human Geography and AP World History)

 

In my AP classes, I learned how to manage more rigorous expectations and college-level abstract thinking. I think offering AP classes is important to help students prepare for college and build their confidence by creating a strong academic foundation. For students considering taking an AP course, be prepared to shift your academic mindset, as your teacher will expect more from you.

Ruby Mathiason, Class of 2025
(AP Human Geography, AP Spanish and AP Language & Composition) 

 

Offering AP classes is important because if students want to go deeper into a subject or a class that challenges them, they have that option. When taking an AP class, students should make sure they don't get behind on class work and that they take good notes so they can easily review all of the units before the AP test.

Rose Thompson, Class of 2026
(AP Human Geography)

About the AP Program

College Board’s Advanced Placement® Program (AP®) enables students to pursue college-level studies—with the opportunity to earn college credit, advanced placement, or both—while still in high school. Through AP courses in 38 subjects, each culminating in a challenging exam, students learn to think critically, construct solid arguments, and see many sides of an issue—skills that prepare them for college and beyond. Taking AP courses demonstrates to college admissions officers that students have sought the most challenging curriculum available to them, and research indicates that students who score a 3 or higher on an AP Exam typically experience greater academic success in college and are more likely to earn a college degree than non-AP students.