WORCESTER—Two of Worcester’s public high schools have been recognized by the College Board for their Advanced Placement programs, with Doherty Memorial High School and University Park Campus School earning Bronze status on the 2025 AP School Honor Roll.
The designation, announced Tuesday by WPS, highlights schools that expand access to college-level coursework while demonstrating student participation and performance on AP exams. The AP School Honor Roll evaluates schools using three measures tied to college readiness: participation in AP coursework, student performance on AP exams and early engagement in advanced coursework.
Within the overall Bronze recognition, both Worcester schools achieved higher-level distinctions in specific categories.
At Doherty Memorial High School, 49 percent of seniors took at least one AP exam, meeting the benchmark for College Culture, while 29 percent earned a qualifying score of 3 or higher on at least one exam, meeting the standard for College Credit. Doherty also earned a Platinum distinction—the highest level possible—for College Optimization, with 16 percent of seniors completing five or more AP exams, including at least one taken during ninth or tenth grade.
University Park Campus School posted higher participation and performance rates, earning Gold distinctions in both College Culture and College Credit. According to the announcement, 73 percent of seniors at UPCS took at least one AP exam, and 39 percent earned a score of 3 or higher on at least one exam. The school also met the Bronze benchmark for College Optimization.
The AP School Honor Roll is designed to recognize schools that both broaden participation in advanced coursework and support student success, rather than limiting access to smaller, high-performing groups.
While the top recognition this year went to Doherty and UPCS, district officials pointed to progress at other Worcester high schools as well.
“While we celebrate the AP School Honor Roll recognition earned by Doherty Memorial High School and University Park Campus School, we are also encouraged by the progress taking place across Worcester Public Schools,” Superintendent Brian E. Allen said in the release. “The achievements of Burncoat, Claremont, North, South and Worcester Technical high schools reflect a districtwide commitment to expanding access to Advanced Placement coursework and building college readiness for all students.”
Several additional Worcester schools met one or more of the College Board’s benchmarks, indicating gains in either AP participation, performance, or early engagement, according to the district.
