By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

Leander ISD Superintendent Bret Champion announced that 769 students earned 827 Advanced Placement Scholar Awards in recognition of their exceptional achievement on the 2015 AP exams.

This is a 21-percent increase from the previous year when 638 students earned 684 distinctions.

“Leander ISD is pleased that a growing number of students are participating in the AP Program and earning AP Scholar Awards,” Champion said.

“We encourage students to participate in the AP Program because it gives them experience with rigorous college-level academics while they are still in high school. Students may earn college credit if they do well on the challenging AP Exams,” Champion said.

Vandegrift High School had a total of 248 scholars honored through the AP Program.

As a whole, LISD reported that 3,579 students took 6,109 AP Exams in 2015, up from the 3,278 students who took 5,667 exams in 2014. The 8-percent increase in the number of exams and 9-percent increase in the number of individual students testing outpaced the district’s 6.5-percent student enrollment growth, while the district’s percentage of students who met criteria (scoring a 3 or higher) improved by 3-percent.

In 2014-15, AP Spanish Language was added at the eighth-grade level at Leander Middle School, and 81-percent of those students met criteria.

The superintendent also shared how pleased he was of Gov. Greg Abbott’s decision in June to sign House Bill 1992 into law.

“This is great news for our students and their families because this legislation requires that all public colleges and universities in Texas award course credit to students who submit scores of 3 or higher on an AP exam,” Champion said.

The law will apply to students entering college as freshmen in fall 2016.

“With AP participation and performance on the rise in our district, HB 1992 will help more students make a successful transition to colleges and careers,” Champion said.

Each year, the College Board helps more than seven million students prepare for a successful transition to college through programs and services in college readiness and college success — including the SAT and the Advanced Placement Program. Founded in 1900, the non profit association was created to expand access to higher education.

Breakdown of awards

The National AP Scholar Award is presented to students who earn an average score of 4 or higher on a five-point scale on all AP exams taken, and scores of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams.

The AP International Diploma (APID) is a globally recognized award for students interested in pursuing university study outside of their native country. Students must earn scores of 3 or higher on five or more total AP Exams.

The AP Scholar with Distinction Award is presented to students who earn an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.

The AP Scholar with Honor Award is achieved by students who earn an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams and the AP Scholar Award is given to students who complete three or more AP Exams with scores of 3 or higher.