AP Capstone Program

Wantagh School District

In September 2016, Wantagh High School became one of the inaugural schools, on Long Island, to offer the AP Capstone™ Program.

What is the AP Capstone™ Program?

AP Capstone™ is an innovative diploma program that helps you stand out in the college admission process by developing the critical skills needed to succeed in college and in life.

The Capstone Program allows students to immerse themself in topics that matter to them while developing the analytic, research, problem-solving, and communication skills that colleges seek in their applicants. This challenging program helps students deepen their passion for learning, giving them greater confidence in their academic skills, and provides a broader perspective on the world.

Students will typically take AP Seminar in the 10th grade (In place of English 10H), followed by AP Research (as a Social Studies elective class) in the 11th grade.

Students who earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research and on four additional AP Exams of their choosing will receive the AP Capstone Diploma. This option allows students taking multiple AP courses to distinguish themselves to colleges and universities.

Students who earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research but not on four additional AP Exams will receive the AP Seminar and Research Certificate.

AP Capstone™ is a College Board program that equips students with the independent research, collaborative teamwork, and communication skills that are increasingly valued by colleges. It cultivates curious, independent, and collaborative scholars and prepares them to make logical, evidence-based decisions.

AP Capstone™ is comprised of two AP courses — AP Seminar and AP Research — and is designed to complement and enhance the discipline-specific study in other AP courses. Participating schools can use the AP Capstone program to provide unique research opportunities for current AP students, or to expand access to AP by encouraging students to master the argument-based writing skills that the AP Capstone program develops.