Hartselle students earn second-highest AP Exam scores in school’s recent history

By Connor Loyd 

For the Enquirer 

Scores for 2023’s AP Exams were released July 5, revealing the second highest pass rate (scores 3-5) in Hartselle High School’s recent history. 

The only year with a higher pass percentage was in May 2020, a year in which few students took the exams due to the COVID-19 pandemic that was happening at the time. 

“AP Exams are scored by the College Board,” explained Dr. Brad Cooper, principal of Hartselle High School. “They have teachers from across the nation merge to score and grade the written response portions.” 

The exams were made available for all students enrolled in Advanced Placement courses. This year, 548 exams were given; this is not the total number of students who took said exams, however, as many students took multiple exams. 

This year, students at Hartselle High School earned a combined total of more than $29,000 for their exam scores via the A+ College Ready Program. 

The A+ College Ready Program is a state budgeted program created to increase student achievement. The program partners with middle and high schools to develop a diverse pipeline of students prepared for rigorous high school course work, including AP. 

“We received a 3-year grant to be an A+ College Ready Program School last year,” Cooper explained. “As part of this program, students earn a $100 gift card for every AP exam on which they earn a score of 3, 4, or 5. Our teachers also receive incentives and instructional supplies as part of the grant.”