Because of their exceptional performance in the College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) Program, 14 students received the AP Capstone Diploma. Wilson Hall is the only school in the area approved by the College Board to offer the AP Capstone Diploma Program, which is based on two, yearlong AP courses: AP Seminar and AP Research. The AP Capstone Diploma is granted to students who earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research and on four additional AP Exams of their choosing.
We congratulate the following students for achieving this honor: (Class of ‘25) Sarah-Jane Bates, Abby Bradley, Annabelle Branham, Andy Cseh, Frances Mac Elmore, Sara Hayes Ridgeway and Camryn Wilmes; (Class of ‘26) Austin McLaurin, Logan Pauly, Olivia Russell, Banks Smith, Mary Ellen Thorne, Sanders Warrick and Bowen Zitzke.
Six students received the AP Seminar and Research Certificate, which is granted to students who earn scores of 3 or higher in both AP Research and AP Seminar: Ella Dixon, Andrew Howle, Muskaan Judge, Sophie Miller, McClain Segars and Michael Thorne, Class of ‘26.
Rather than teaching subject-specific content, the AP Research and Seminar courses develop students’ skills in research, analysis, evidence-based arguments, collaboration, writing, and presenting. Both courses guide students through completing a research project, writing an academic paper, and making a presentation on their project. Students who complete the two-year program can earn one of two different AP Capstone awards (diploma or certificate) which are valued by colleges across the United States and around the world.
The College Board developed the AP Capstone Diploma program at the request of higher education professionals who saw a need for a systematic way for high school students to begin mastering these skills before college. Only 38 schools in South Carolina offer the program and Wilson Hall is one of only five private schools in the state to offer it.