GENTRY, AR -- Gentry Public Schools students are earning more college credit before they ever set foot on a college campus.

Gentry High School students recorded 89 passing scores on Advanced Placement (AP) exams this year, a significant increase from the 63 passing scores earned the previous year — a gain of more than 40 percent.

Those passing scores represent an estimated 267 college credit hours earned by Gentry students. Based on an estimated value of per college credit hours, those credits could represent approximately $320,400 in potential college costs saved by Gentry families.

The achievement is a reflection not only of the students who challenged themselves through AP coursework, but also of the teachers who helped prepare them for college-level expectations.

“Seeing our students step up to the challenge of AP coursework and then see those efforts translate into college credit is incredibly rewarding,” said Anthony Herbaugh, Gentry Public Schools’ GT/AP Coordinator. “These results are a testament to the hard work of our students and the dedication of our teachers. We’re building a culture where students understand that they are capable of doing college-level work while they’re still in high school, and that confidence can carry with them long after they leave Gentry High School.”

Two Gentry AP courses achieved a particularly notable milestone this year.

The inaugural AP Seminar, taught by Kari Cantrell, recorded a 100 percent passing rate. AP 2-D Art and Design, taught by Stephanie Hoyle, also achieved a 100 percent passing rate.

The success of AP Seminar is especially significant because it was the first year Gentry offered the course. AP Seminar is part of the AP Capstone program and emphasizes research, analysis, collaboration, argumentation and presentation — skills that are directly applicable to college coursework.

Advanced Placement courses give high school students the opportunity to engage with material designed at the college level while still having the support of their high school teachers and classmates. Students who earn qualifying AP exam scores may receive college credit or advanced placement, depending on the policies of the college or university they attend. In Arkansas, public colleges and universities generally award credit for AP exam scores of 3 or higher under state policy, with some exams subject to institutional policies.

But the value of AP extends beyond the college credits themselves. College Board notes that AP coursework can help students develop skills such as critical thinking, time management, scholarly writing and independent study, which are all skills that can make the transition from high school to college smoother.

For Gentry students, that preparation provides an opportunity to enter college with both experience in college-level academics and, in many cases, a head start on their degree requirements.

“AP is about more than a test score,” Herbaugh said. “It’s about giving our students the opportunity to challenge themselves, discover what they’re capable of and develop the skills they’ll need after graduation. When our students earn college credit along the way, that’s an added benefit, but the confidence and academic preparation they gain are just as important.”

The Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education identifies Advanced Placement courses as an important accelerated-learning opportunity designed to help prepare students for admission to and success in postsecondary education.

For Gentry Public Schools, the 89 passing scores represent more than a number. They represent students taking on a challenge, teachers investing in their success and families seeing the benefits of providing students with opportunities to get ahead, Herbaugh said.