Plymouth Whitemarsh High School students and graduates receive AP Capstone Diploma

Two Plymouth Whitemarsh High School students and two alumni have earned the AP Capstone Diploma, a distinction that is awarded to students who earn scores of 3 or higher on AP Seminar and AP Research exams, as well as on four additional Advanced Placement exams taken in a year.

Seniors Lindy Arnold and Rosemary Ounsworth, as well as 2025 graduates Jackson DeGuzman and Daine Knittel, received this elite distinction for their scores in the 2024-25 school year. According to the College Board, more than 160,000 students in over 3,500 schools worldwide participated in AP Capstone. Of these, approximately 27,650 students earned the AP Capstone Diploma.

Last year was the first time Plymouth Whitemarsh students could be eligible for the diploma since it was also the first year that the high school offered AP Research as a class. In AP Seminar and AP Research classes, students are encouraged to create research projects based on topics of personal interest and are assessed on the critical thinking, research, collaboration, time management, and presentation skills needed to complete their projects. 

The College Board AP Program gives students the opportunity to take challenging college-level courses while still in high school. Plymouth Whitemarsh High School currently offers 36 AP and pre-AP courses. 

According to the College Board, earning a score of 3 or higher on an AP exam has multiple benefits for students, including earning college credit, advanced placement in college courses, or both, saving them time and money. Research shows AP students are better prepared for and more likely to enroll and remain in college, do well in classes, and earn their degrees on time. Each exam is developed by a committee of college and university faculty and AP teachers, ensuring that AP Exams align with their high standards.

In partnership with the higher education community, College Board developed AP Capstone courses to help students build and master skills essential for success in college and career.

“AP Seminar and AP Research sets students up for collegiate success as they learn how to tackle a large-scale project and persevere to completion,” shared Dr. Kellee J. Kirkpatrick, senior research fellow at Institute for Science, Technology, and Public Policy at The Bush School of Government and Public Service – Texas A&M University. “We have heard multiple reports from AP Capstone alumni that while their college peers are stressing over small, five-page papers, Capstone students are tackling these projects with confidence. Additionally, completing the AP Capstone courses helps students to be careful consumers of knowledge and well-informed, critical citizens.”