More Clark County School District students earned qualifying AP exam scores last year, a 9.6% increase over the prior year

What happened

The Clark County School District announced Friday that 20,120 of its students earned qualifying Advanced Placement test scores last year, according to the Las Vegas Sun. The district said that figure is a 9.6% increase over the prior year.

CCSD also reported that 3% more of its students took AP courses last year, and 62% of test-takers passed their final exams, the Sun reported. AP courses are meant to show students can handle college-level work, and passing scores may lead to college credit while students are still in high school.

Why AP scores matter for students

According to the College Board, the national not-for-profit that runs the AP program, a score of 3 out of 5 is typically enough for an American public college to grant credit, a higher course placement, or both. The College Board offers AP courses in 40 subjects, including the arts, history, English, math, sciences, world languages and research.

More students earning College Board recognition

The district said more students also earned extra recognition from the College Board for their exam results. The Sun reported these figures from CCSD:

• AP Scholars: 2,207 students, up 10%, for scores of 3 or higher on three or more exams.
• AP Scholars with Honor: 839 students, up 15%, for an average score of at least 3.25 on all exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on four or more exams.
• AP Scholar with Distinction: 1,537 students, up 25%, for an average of at least 3.5 on all exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on five or more exams.

What the superintendent said

CCSD Superintendent Jhone Ebert called the numbers "exciting results, as they show CCSD students are thriving when given the opportunity to challenge themselves with rigorous coursework," in a statement reported by the Sun.

79 schools added to the Superintendent's Honor Roll

The district also added 79 schools to its Superintendent's Honor Roll for academic achievement last school year, the Sun reported. Thirty-two schools qualified by earning the state's top 5-star ranking on the Nevada School Performance Framework for the 2025-26 year, and 51 qualified by raising their index scores by 10 or more points.

Four schools met both standards: Blue Diamond Elementary, Goolsby Elementary, Glen C. Taylor Elementary and Green Valley High. Ebert said in a statement that the honored schools are showing that "every school is capable of creating rigorous, joyful learning for our students."

How the state rates schools

Schools are rated each year on a scale of 1 to 5 stars. The rating considers standardized exam results in English language arts, math and science, chronic absenteeism and, for high schools, graduation rates. The Nevada Department of Education released this year's star ratings in September.

Index scores look at student proficiency and academic growth, gaps between student groups, progress by English language learners, graduation, and college and career readiness. Families can follow more district coverage in our schools section.

Students invited to vote in a statewide mock election

The Sun also reported that students can take part in the 2026 Mock Election online, starting Thursday and running through the rest of the month. The effort is a joint project of the Nevada Secretary of State's Office and its Youth Advisory Task Force, the Nevada Department of Education and the Nevada Center for Civic Engagement.

The questions ask whether Nevada should stop changing clocks for daylight saving time, whether students should have a say in consequences when school rules are broken, whether the state should set a minimum age for cell phones or social media accounts, and whether elementary schools should provide at least 20 minutes of daily recess. The Secretary of State's office describes it as a nonpartisan way to get students engaged early in civics and the state's election process.

What to watch next

• The 2026 Mock Election remains open to students online through the rest of the month, according to the Sun.
• Participation is open to schools, classes, organizations and youth groups.
• Students are being asked about daylight saving time, school discipline, minimum ages for phones and social media, and daily recess.