Jackson Academy has been named to the College Board’s Advanced Placement® School Honor Roll for the 2024-25 school year based on its success in preparing students for college. The AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools whose AP programs are delivering results and broadening student participation. Through AP coursework, students increase college readiness, earn college credit or advanced placement, and gain experience with college-level curriculum. Schools earn this distinction annually based on their performance during the previous academic year.
What JA Offers
JA’s faculty and administrators are dedicated to cultivating a supportive academic environment where students are encouraged to challenge themselves through AP coursework and make the most of the AP experience. With 15 AP courses currently available and a sixteenth to be added next year, JA offers students the opportunity to begin their AP studies as early as ninth grade with Social Studies AP Human Geography. Students can continue to expand their learning each year by selecting from a broad range of AP courses through graduation. The AP Capstone program, in particular, is designed to foster critical skills, promote personal growth, and equip students for future success by emphasizing lifelong learning and practical skill development over content memorization.
AP Courses Offered by Subject Area:
- English AP Seminar (10th Grade) AP English Language (11th Grade) AP English Literature (12th Grade) AP Research (12th Grade)
- AP Precalculus (10th / 11th Grade) AP Calculus (11th / 12th Grade) AP Statistics (11th / 12th Grade)
- Science AP Chemistry (11th Grade) AP Physics (12th Grade) AP Biology (12th Grade)
- Social Studies AP Human Geography (9th Grade) AP World History (10th Grade) AP United States History (11th Grade) AP Government (12th Grade)
- Art AP 2D Art and Design (11th / 12th Grade) AP Drawing (11th / 12th Grade)
Exceptional Pass Rates
AP courses build toward a rigorous exam designed to showcase students’ ability to think critically, craft thoughtful arguments, and approach complex issues from multiple perspectives, skills that serve them well in college and in life. By pursuing AP coursework, JA students demonstrate their commitment to academic challenge and personal growth to college admissions officers. According to the College Board, research consistently shows that students who earn a 3 or higher on an AP exam are better prepared for college-level work and are more likely to earn their college degree.
Of the 140 JA students who took 287 AP exams, the pass rate was 86 percent. JA’s pass rate exceeds the national average of 75 percent and the Mississippi average of 43 percent.
“Our pass rate is out of this world, and our students are amazing,” said Head of Upper School Kyle Nichols. “Their pass rate speaks to their personal dedication to their education and to the schoolwide effort of teachers, counselors, administrators, and parents to help students become well-rounded, educated citizens who will influence their world in positive ways.”
AP coursework is not focused entirely on pass rates, however. Participating in AP classes gives students early experience with college-level expectations, helping them build confidence and essential academic skills. This opportunity to participate in AP as a supplement to JA’s outstanding college-preparatory curriculum fosters a vibrant, college-going culture throughout the school, encouraging all students to set ambitious goals for their futures.
“Students who do not score the required rate of 3 or above on an AP exam still gain from the experience of studying at the college level. It gives them confidence to step into college courses knowing they are prepared for the next step. The rigor of college coursework is not a surprise to them. They are prepared,” Nichols added.
