The Central High School District is proud to announce that all three of its high schools Kennedy High School, Mepham High School and Calhoun High School, have earned Gold distinction on the College Board’s Advanced Placement School Honor Roll. 

The AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools across the nation that are expanding access to Advanced Placement coursework while supporting strong student achievement and college readiness. Schools earn recognition based on criteria that include AP participation, AP exam performance, and students’ successful completion of multiple AP courses throughout high school. 

Scott Bersin, the district’s Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment said the district “is extremely proud of this year’s recognition from the College Board.” 

“For many years, the work of our principals, directors, assistant principals, chairpersons, and teaching faculty has focused on ensuring broad student access to the rigorous opportunities available through the AP program, he added. “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.”  

Students throughout the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District have long been recognized for exceptional achievement in Advanced Placement coursework and national academic competitions. Each year, hundreds of students across the district earn AP Scholar distinctions from the College Board in recognition of their outstanding performance on AP exams. 

Bellmore-Merrick also continues to see success through its AP Capstone Diploma program, an innovative College Board initiative designed to prepare students for college and future careers through interdisciplinary learning and research-based coursework. The AP Capstone program emphasizes independent research, collaborative teamwork and advanced communication skills that are increasingly valued by colleges and employers. A distinctive feature of the district’s program is its interdisciplinary approach, with courses co-taught by English and social studies teachers, providing students with a uniquely collaborative academic experience. 

Bellmore-Merrick students have consistently distinguished themselves through their academic accomplishments, earning recognition at the local, state and national levels for excellence in scholarship, research and performance in rigorous coursework. 

 In 2023, Bellmore-Merrick was also named the College Board Advanced Placement Medium-Sized District of the Year, selected from more than 12,000 districts across the United States and Canada whose schools achieved high placement on the annual AP School Honor Roll. 

The College Board launched the AP School Honor Roll program in 2023 to recognize schools whose AP programs are delivering results for students while broadening participation in college-level coursework. Schools can earn Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum distinctions annually.