Today, State School Superintendent Richard Woods named 316 Advanced Placement (AP) Honor Schools from 110 school districts for 2026.

"Georgia's 2026 AP Honor Schools reflect our continued commitment to providing students with rigorous, high‑quality learning opportunities that prepare them for life beyond high school," Superintendent Woods said. "These schools demonstrate a strong dedication to academic excellence by challenging students and supporting them as they rise to meet high expectations. By expanding access to advanced coursework, they are helping ensure more Georgia students have the opportunity to graduate prepared for college, careers, and a successful future."

The 2026 AP Honor Schools are named in eight categories based on the results of 2025 AP courses and exams. A list of categories is below, and a complete list of schools in each category is linked in the description.

AP exams are administered by the College Board, which also administers the SAT. AP courses are one of several ways Georgia students can access college-level learning while in high school; students who earn a score of 3, 4, or 5 on an AP exam may receive college credit.

Georgia ranks in the top third nationally and exceeds the national average for the percentage of students passing AP exams, according to data released by the College Board earlier this year. Georgia continues to outperform most Southern states in AP success, with students scoring higher than their peers in Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia.

The Georgia Department of Education began recognizing AP Honor Schools in 2008.

AP Access and Support Schools

Schools with at least 30% of AP exams taken by students who identified as African American and/or Hispanic (minimum of 16 students) and 30% of all AP exams earning scores of 3 or higher. At least 25 exams must be administered. 

AP Challenge Schools

Schools with enrollments of 900 or fewer students and exams administered in English, math, science, and social studies, with a minimum of 25 total exams administered.

AP Expansion Schools

Schools with 25% growth in AP student participation from May 2024 to May 2025 and a minimum of 25 students testing in May 2024.

AP Humanities Schools

Schools with at least five exams administered in each of the following AP categories: one ELA course, two social studies courses, one fine arts course, and one world language course, and a minimum of 25 total exams administered. 

AP Humanities Achievement Schools

AP Humanities schools with at least 50% of all AP Humanities exams earning scores of 3 or higher. 

AP Schools of Distinction

Schools with at least 20% of the total student population taking AP exams and at least 50% of all AP exams earning scores of 3 or higher.

AP STEM Schools

Schools with a minimum of five students testing in at least four AP STEM courses (including AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Statistics, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, AP Physics 1, AP Physics 2, AP Physics C, AP Computer Science A, and AP Computer Science Principles), and a minimum of 25 exams administered. 

AP STEM Achievement Schools

AP STEM schools with at least 50% of all AP STEM exams earning scores of 3 or higher.