FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tampa, Fl. (November 21, 2025) – Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) is proud to announce that 175 students from last year’s graduating class have earned the AP Capstone DiplomaTM, and 41 students earned the AP Seminar and Research CertificateTM. The AP Capstone Diploma program helps students develop critical thinking, research, collaboration, and presentation skills that are essential to academic and career success.
AP Capstone Diploma Recipients Plant High School: 104 Steinbrenner High School: 32 Sickles High School: 18 Durant High School: 11 Riverview High School: 6 Gaither High School: 2 Bloomingdale High School: 1 East Bay High School: 1 | AP Seminar and Research Certificates Plant High School: 23 Sickles High School: 6 Steinbrenner High School: 4 Riverview High School: 3 Durant High School: 2 Gaither High School: 2 Bloomingdale High School: 1 |
“We are proud to celebrate the outstanding achievements of students in the AP Capstone Diploma program,” said Superintendent Van Ayres. “Guided by dedicated teachers, these students have pursued their passions through rigorous, multi-year research and inquiry. This transformative program not only prepares them for college but equips them with skills that will serve them well throughout life.”
The AP Capstone experience is unique because it goes beyond traditional exams. AP Seminar and AP Research assessments are project-based and evaluate mastery through group projects, presentations, and individual essays completed throughout the year. Both courses are interdisciplinary, encouraging students to design research projects on topics of personal interest while developing critical thinking, collaboration, time management, and presentation skills.
To earn the AP Capstone Diploma, students must score 3 or higher in AP Seminar, AP Research, and on four additional Advanced Placement® (AP®) Exams of their choice. Students who score 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research earn the AP Seminar and Research Certificate.
This achievement places HCPS students among an elite group worldwide. During the 2024-25 school year, more than 160,000 students in over 3,500 schools participated in AP Capstone. Of these, approximately 27,650 students earned the AP Capstone Diploma, and 12,430 earned the AP Seminar and Research Certificate.
HCPS is proud of its continued success in all AP programs, administering over 27,000 exams annually with record-breaking results. This past spring, HCPS achieved a 70% pass rate on AP exams, the highest ever for the district.
To learn more about the advanced placement and other academic opportunities at HCPS visit: hillsboroughschools.org.