North Babylon AP Success Continues as Student Participation and Achievement Reach New Heights

North Babylon High School continues to build a culture of academic excellence, as new Advanced Placement (AP) data reflects both a significant increase in student participation and sustained success on rigorous college-level exams.

The district administered a record 928 AP exams in 2026, a nearly 40% increase from the 666 exams administered in 2022. Just as importantly, 647 exams earned scores of 3, 4, or 5, the benchmark widely recognized by colleges and universities as demonstrating college-level proficiency.

While the number of exams taken has steadily climbed, student performance has remained exceptionally strong. In 2026, 70% of all AP exams earned scores of 3, 4 or 5, following an impressive 71% pass rate in 2025. That represents a dramatic improvement from 56% in both 2022 and 2023.

District leaders attribute the continued growth to intentional academic planning and structural changes that have expanded opportunities for students.

One of the most significant factors has been the implementation of the district's nine-period instructional day, now in its second full year. The expanded high school schedule has created greater flexibility for students to enroll in courses that prepare them for Advanced Placement before taking on the challenge of AP classes.

As a result, more students are entering the AP pipeline with the skills and confidence needed to succeed while more students than ever are choosing to enroll in college-level coursework.

The nine-period schedule has also strengthened collaboration among educators by adding a dedicated professional period. During this common planning time, teachers within the same academic department work alongside curriculum coordinators to analyze student performance, refine instruction and align curriculum across grade levels.

That intentional collaboration has helped ensure students receive consistent preparation throughout their academic journey, leading to stronger outcomes when they reach AP classrooms.

"These results are a reflection of what happens when intentional planning, outstanding teaching and student ambition come together," said Dr. Kenneth Graham, Superintendent of Schools. "Our administrators, faculty and staff are all focused on meeting the diverse needs of every single one of our students. An area that our high school team has given great attention to is the move to a nine-period day, which has allowed us to create more pathways for students to prepare for and succeed in Advanced Placement courses, while also giving our teachers dedicated time to collaborate, refine curriculum and share best practices. We are incredibly proud that more students than ever are challenging themselves academically while continuing to achieve at such a high level. This is exactly the kind of college- and career-ready culture we strive to build in North Babylon."

The data illustrates a district-wide commitment to expanding academic opportunity without sacrificing achievement. Even as AP participation has reached record levels, North Babylon students have continued to perform exceptionally well, demonstrating that increased access and academic excellence can go hand in hand.

The 2026 results reinforce North Babylon's ongoing investment in rigorous instruction, collaborative teaching practices and providing every student with opportunities to challenge themselves while preparing for success in college and beyond.