AP Capstone Diploma
About AP
The Advanced Placement® Program (AP) develops college-level courses that high schools can offer and corresponding AP Exams that are administered once a year. It enables willing and academically prepared students to pursue college-level studies while still in high school. The AP Program is a collaborative community of AP teachers and students, states, districts, schools, colleges, and universities committed to the daily work of developing college-level knowledge and skills. AP courses are available in seven subject categories and are modeled on a comparable introductory college course in the subject. Each course culminates in a standardized college-level assessment, or AP Exam.
AP Exams
Each AP course concludes with an AP Exam. AP Exams given once per school year in May are scored on a scale of 1 to 5 by college and university professors and experienced AP teachers. Many U.S. colleges offer credit for AP Exam scores of 3 or higher.
Benefits of an AP Capstone Diploma
The AP Capstone Diploma stands out on college applications. An AP Capstone Diploma and AP courses on a student’s transcript show that they’ve challenged themselves with the most rigorous courses available to them. And success on an AP Exam shows that they’re ready for college-level coursework. Students can earn college credit and/or skip introductory courses in college. Most four-year colleges and universities in the United States—as well as many institutions in more than 100 other countries—grant students credit, placement, or both for qualifying AP Exam scores, and 85% of selective colleges and universities report that a student’s AP experience favorably impacts admission decisions. Research shows that students who receive a score of 3 or higher on AP Exams typically experience greater academic success in college and have higher graduation rates than their non-AP peers
Florida Bright Futures Scholarship
The AP Capstone Diploma can now be used as a pathway to meet eligibility requirements, replacing the need for SAT/ACT scores for students graduating in 2026 and beyond. To qualify, students must achieve a score of 3 or higher on the AP Seminar and AP Research exams, and on four additional AP exams in core subject areas. This new option provides a flexible pathway to the FAS award for students who have earned the AP Capstone Diploma, provided they also meet the GPA and service hour requirements.