AP Capstone

Now in its 9th year at Hancock, the AP Capstone program has welcomed nearly 200 students into its elite ranks

The program is accessible to all students who want to apply. Acceptance into the program requires meeting some baseline benchmarks for grades, test scores, and attendance as well as completing an interview.

After successful completion of this program, Hancock's AP Capstone students have achieved many amazing successes including:

Acceptances to top-tier colleges. AP Capstone students have been accepted to Harvard (valedictorians of the classes of 2023 and 2024), University of Chicago, UC Berkley, Case Western University, UIUC, University of Michigan, Notre Dame, U. Penn and more.

Selection for the Illinois Science and Technology Coallition's Student Research Showcase in 2020 and 2023.

Earning the College Board Capstone Diploma, signifying that students have successfully passed six AP exams including AP Seminar and AP Research, or earning the College Board Capstone Certificate, indicating successful completion of the AP Seminar and AP Research exams.

Increased persistence and success in college, especially in courses requiring students to complete research independently.

"...I have great news! I have finished the semester with an A in my Clinical Psychology Research Methods course. On my final paper, I only lost one point (44/45)! I felt very proud of myself and couldn't help but think that the reason it was easier for me to write this paper was because of AP Capstone. I have worked with my peers, helping them write different parts of the paper. You would not believe how common it was for students to not know what an academic article is.

I have been accepted into the McNair Scholars Program! This program is well recognized at UIUC. They help students conduct their own research and help jump-start the process of applying to graduate schools. I will also be conducting research in the summer for this program, which is paid! I am excited to see what path my research will take me on. The program requires students to go to graduate school for a master's degree and a PhD. They help monitor the process as well as provide some financial relief when they can, such as waiving fees for applications.

When you get the chance, please tell your students how important AP Capstone is! Whether or not students want to conduct research in the future, many courses and gen-eds require a research paper as part of the exam (or replacing a multiple-choice exam). I would not be where I am, especially in great academic standing, if it weren't for your and [the AP Seminar teacher's] help."

What Is AP Capstone?

AP Capstone™ is a College Board program that equips students with the independent research, collaborative teamwork, and communication skills that are increasingly valued by colleges. It cultivates curious, independent, and collaborative scholars and prepares them to make logical, evidence-based decisions.

AP Capstone is comprised of two AP courses — AP Seminar and AP Research— and is designed to complement and enhance the discipline-specific study in other AP courses. Participating schools can use the AP Capstone program to provide unique research opportunities for current AP students, or to expand access to AP by encouraging students to master the argument-based writing skills that the AP Capstone program develops.

FOR STUDENTS

Fosters the research, argumentation, and communication skills that are at the core of college readiness and essential for lifelong learning
Provides a setting to build on the knowledge and rigorous course work of AP in an interdisciplinary format
Offers students a unique opportunity to distinguish themselves to colleges and universities

FOR TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS

Builds professional excellence through participation in an intensive, weeklong collaborative professional development institute
Offers a flexible curricular content model with room for creativity and student input
Affords schools and districts the distinction of offering a rigorous, widely recognized diploma program

FOR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

Helps identify students who are prepared to enter college with the research, writing, and collaboration skills necessary for successful college completion
Provides consistent, externally validated measures of student ability

Combining Scholarly Practice with Academic Intensity

AP Capstone was developed in response to feedback from higher education. The two AP Capstone courses, with their associated performance tasks, assessments, and application of research methodology, require students to:

Analyze topics through multiple lenses to construct meaning or gain understanding.
Plan and conduct a study or investigation.
Propose solutions to real-world problems.
Plan and produce communication in various forms.
Collaborate to solve a problem.
Integrate, synthesize, and make cross-curricular connections.

Two students flank their teacher all smiling at the camera. On the wall behind is a sing stating ISTC 5th Annual Student Research Showcase. — ISTC Showcase