Saipan International School’s current AP students pose for a photo with a banner with the AP Honor Roll Certificate. Holding the banner are Christian Newman and MJ Magno, the school’s top AP score recipients for 2024.
Saipan International School’s AP teachers hold an AP Honor Roll banner.
COLLEGE Board announced that Saipan International School has been named to the 2024 Advanced Placement Program or AP School Honor Roll. In 2023, SIS was the only CNMI school on the Honor Roll, earning Gold distinction. This year, SIS improved on its standing, earning the Platinum distinction, the highest level of distinction offered by the College Board.
The AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools whose AP programs are delivering results for students while broadening access. Schools can earn this recognition annually based on criteria that reflect a commitment to increasing college-going culture, providing opportunities for students to earn college credit, and maximizing college readiness.
Saipan International School had 88% of its seniors take at least one AP Exam during high school and 58% score a 3 or higher on at least one AP Exam. In order to earn Platinum distinction, schools must have at least 80% of seniors taking at least one exam with at least 50% earning a passing mark. Additionally, to earn the Platinum distinction, schools must have at least 15% of its graduating seniors take five or more AP exams, where at least 1 exam was taken in 9th or 10th grade. SIS far exceeded this minimum requirement with 46% of its seniors taking five or more AP Exams!
This recognition highlights the success of SIS in expanding access to AP courses and improving student performance. The school offers a wide range of AP courses across diverse subject areas, including AP Capstone, an innovative diploma program that equips students with independent research, collaborative teamwork, and communication skills. SIS was the first AP Capstone school in the CNMI and in the 2023-2024 academic year, 23 students passed the rigorous AP Research course, contributing to SIS’s outstanding results. Seven teachers at Saipan International School are authorized to teach its 14 Advanced Placement courses, the highest number in the CNMI in all schools, public or private. SIS offers the following courses:
• AP Biology
• AP Physics 1
• AP Physics C: Mechanics
• AP Human Geography
• AP Microeconomics
• AP Macroeconomics
• AP English Language and Composition
• AP English Literature and Composition
• AP Pre-Calculus
• AP Calculus AB
• AP Calculus BC
• AP Statistics
• AP Research
• AP Seminar
“We are incredibly proud to receive the Platinum Distinction on the AP Honor Roll,” said Dr. Ron Snyder, headmaster of Saipan International School. “This achievement reflects the dedication of our teachers, the hard work of our students, and our commitment to providing a world-class education to the children of the CNMI. Our students are not only excelling academically but are also being prepared for future success by engaging in critical thinking, research, and problem-solving at the highest levels.”
“AP gives students opportunity to engage with college-level work, to earn college credit and placement, and to potentially boost their grade point averages,” said Trevor Packer, head of College Board’s AP program. “The schools that have earned this distinction are proof that it is possible to expand access to these college-level courses and still drive strong performance. Only 6% of all schools earn the Platinum distinction — they represent the best of AP.”
Saipan International School continues to lead the way in AP education in the Northern Mariana Islands and remains dedicated to promoting a culture of academic rigor while maintaining inclusivity, encouraging students from all backgrounds to participate in the AP program. Achieving this honor underscores SIS’s unwavering commitment to student excellence and the school’s mission of fostering lifelong learning, critical thinking, and academic success.
College Board’s Advanced Placement Program enables students to pursue college-level studies — with the opportunity to earn college credit, advanced placement, or both — while still in high school. Through AP courses in 38 subjects, each culminating in a challenging exam, students learn to think critically, construct solid arguments, and see many sides of an issue — skills that prepare them for college and beyond.
