The Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District announced that all three of its high schools have earned Gold distinction on the College Board’s Advanced Placement School Honor Roll, recognizing their efforts to expand access to college-level coursework while maintaining strong student achievement.
John F. Kennedy High School, Wellington C. Mepham High School and Sanford H. Calhoun High School received the designation, which is awarded to schools that demonstrate success in Advanced Placement participation, exam performance and student completion of multiple AP courses during high school.
District officials said the recognition reflects years of work to provide students with opportunities to challenge themselves academically while preparing for college and future careers.
“This honor serves as meaningful recognition of the collective efforts of our educators, students and families, and reflects the strong culture of academic excellence that exists throughout our schools,” said Scott Bersin, assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction and assessment.
Bersin said district leaders, administrators, department chairpersons and teachers have focused for many years on ensuring broad access to the AP program and its rigorous academic offerings.
The AP School Honor Roll was launched by the College Board in 2023 to recognize schools whose AP programs are helping students succeed in college-level coursework while increasing participation. Schools can earn Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum distinctions each year based on performance measures established by the organization.
The Bellmore-Merrick district has a long history of student achievement in Advanced Placement courses and national academic competitions. Each year, hundreds of students earn AP Scholar honors from the College Board for their performance on AP exams.
District officials also pointed to the continued success of the AP Capstone Diploma program, a College Board initiative designed to develop research, collaboration and communication skills through interdisciplinary coursework.
A distinctive feature of Bellmore-Merrick’s AP Capstone program is its interdisciplinary structure, with courses co-taught by English and social studies teachers. The model encourages students to conduct independent research, work collaboratively and engage in advanced academic inquiry, skills that educators say are increasingly important in higher education and the workforce.
Students across the district have earned recognition at the local, state and national levels for achievements in scholarship, research and other rigorous academic pursuits, district officials said.
The Gold distinction places Kennedy, Mepham and Calhoun among schools nationwide recognized for providing students with access to challenging coursework while supporting academic success and college readiness.
