Park City Students Achieve Record AP Success, Earn College Credit

PARK CITY, Utah — Park City School District students achieved a record-breaking year in Advanced Placement (AP) performance, with 87.03% of test-takers earning a score of 3 or higher, the highest pass rate in district history.

A total of 910 students across grades 9–12 took at least one AP exam during the 2024–25 school year, representing nearly 60% of the district’s high school population. Of those, 792 students earned at least one passing score, reflecting both rigorous instruction and the dedication of Park City students.

“These results are more than a statistic; they represent effort, equity and belief in what our students can achieve,” said Rebekka Hall, Student Support, Testing Coordinator at Park City High School. “This is what happens when a whole community supports high expectations.”

AP courses are college-level classes taught in high schools and administered by the College Board. Students may earn college credit or advanced placement at participating universities by scoring a 3, 4 or 5 on AP exams. At roughly $98 per test, passing an AP exam can save students hundreds or even thousands of dollars in college tuition—often earning 3 to 9 college credits per exam.

Despite declining high school enrollment over the past five years, AP participation continues to grow. In 2021, 673 students took AP exams. By 2025, that number increased to 910.

By the Numbers:

• 87.03% of students earned a score of 3 or higher
  792 students passed at least one AP exam
• 50.9% of all high school students earned a passing AP score, whether or not formally enrolled in AP classes
• 71.1% of the Class of 2025 passed at least one AP exam during high school
• Park City’s scores exceeded both state and global averages in nearly every subject
   

Course Highlights:

• AP U.S. History: 96% pass rate, average score of 4.14 (Utah average: 81%, global: 74%)
• AP Human Geography (9th grade): 90% pass rate (global: 65%)
• AP World History: 90% pass rate (global: 64%)
• AP Macroeconomics: 85% pass rate, up from 62% last year
• AP Microeconomics: 88% pass rate (global: 68%

Park City School District AP Highlights

A major contributor to this continued success is the district’s Dream Big program, which supports first-generation college-bound students through academic mentoring and AP exam preparation.

“Dream Big helps students walk into their AP classes confident and prepared,” said Melanie Moffat, an English language learner teacher at Park City High School and program coordinator. “It’s about creating a sense of belonging and academic readiness.”

Students in Dream Big begin their AP journey over the summer with early exposure to AP content and continue receiving academic support throughout the school year. This year, 10 out of 12 Dream Big participants passed AP U.S. History, with additional success in AP Language and Composition, AP Chemistry and other high-level courses. The program currently serves more than 100 students annually.

Park City High School currently offers 29 AP courses. Two new courses, AP Seminar and AP Music Theory, are set to launch in the 2025–26 school year. Future expansions may include AP Cybersecurity and AP Business Principles.