Piscataway High School has earned its place in the prestigious AP School Honor Roll for the 2^nd straight year for its outstanding efforts in expanding access to Advanced Placement courses and developing a culture of excellence among college-bound students.

Benefits that PHS students reap from AP courses include earning college credits, developing college skills, and standing out on college applications. Research consistently shows that AP students are better prepared for college than students who don’t take AP. They’re more likely to enroll and stay in college, do well in their classes, and graduate in four years.

“We are extremely proud that Piscataway High School has been recognized on the AP Honor Roll,” said PHS Principal Chris Baldassano. “This achievement reflects the dedication of our students, the expertise of our teachers, and our shared commitment to academic excellence.”

PHS earned the AP School Honor Roll from College Board for welcoming more students into AP courses for 2025 and setting them on the path to college success. PHS earned “Gold” status in 2 of 3 metrics for the award:

• College Credit, which measures the percent of students in the graduating class who scored 3+ on any AP Exam.
• College Optimization, which measures the percent of students in the graduating class who took 5 or more AP Exams in high school, where at least 1 exam was taken in 9th or 10th grade.

This is an improvement over the 2024 award, when PHS had Gold status only in the College Credit metric.

PHS earned “Bronze” status for College Culture, which measures the percent of students in the graduating class who took an AP exam at any point in high school. Because a school’s overall status depends on meeting or exceeding standards in all three metrics, PHS was awarded Bronze recognition overall.

“We know it takes a considerable schoolwide effort – dedication from teachers, counselors, administrators, students, and parents – to make AP access a priority,” Trevor Packer, College Board’s senior vice president for AP and instruction, said in his announcement letter to PHS Assistant Principal Dr. Maria Cetta, AP Program coordinator. “Congratulations! I'm inspired by your commitment and grateful for the chance to honor your success.”

PHS offers 28 AP exams in the areas of Arts, English, History and Social Sciences, Math and Computer Science, Sciences, and World Language and Cultures. Over 500 students are enrolled in AP courses and over 800 AP tests were taken last spring.

PHS is also celebrating exceptional 2025 AP Exam results. Across disciplines, PHS students consistently outperformed state and global averages, achieved remarkable passing rates, and earned an impressive number of top scores (3s, 4s and 5s).

Among the highlights are:

• Many courses achieved 96–100% pass rates, including AP Calculus BC, AP English Literature, AP Chemistry, AP Biology, AP Spanish Language, and multiple AP Art sections
• AP Calculus BC recorded a 100% pass rate, with an extraordinary 93% of students earning a 5.
• AP Chemistry saw 44% of students score a 5, while AP Computer Science A had 45% of students earning 5s, continuing a multi-year tradition that includes two perfect exam scores.
• AP Biology students earned an average score of 4.12, with 78% scoring 4 or higher.
• AP U.S. History achieved a 98% pass rate and an average score of 4.19, one of the highest in school history and well above the global average.
• AP World History (86%), AP U.S. Government & Politics (73%), AP Macroeconomics (78%), and AP African American Studies (93%) all demonstrated strong pass rates and competitive results compared with New Jersey and global data.
• AP English Language and AP English Literature posted pass rates up to 100%, with some sections reporting 88% of students earning 4s and 5s.
• AP Precalculus, designed to expand access and challenge students traditionally underrepresented in AP math, achieved a 67% pass rate, with 61% earning a 3, highlighting meaningful growth and effort within a uniquely inclusive model.

PHS’s inclusion in the AP Honor Roll was made possible through the ongoing collaborations of the high school administration spearheaded by Dr. Cetta, the PHS Counseling Department, and the district Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Student Engagement. PHS supports students in AP classes with an AP Summer Institute for welcoming new AP students, AP Spring Academy with prep sessions and mock exams, and an after-school tutoring program.

“Research shows students who take AP courses and exams are more likely to attend college and graduate on time,” Packer said in his letter. “And even for those who don’t earn college credit, advanced coursework provides early exposure to college-level work and contributes to a college-going school culture.”

In 2024, PHS also earned the “Access Award,” which was given to schools that allow all students access to AP courses, encouraging more low-income and underrepresented minority students to take AP courses. The College Board no longer offered this award for 2025.