VALDOSTA, Ga. — State School Superintendent Richard Woods has named 685 Advanced Placement Honor Schools for 2018.

Valdosta High School has been named a 2018 AP STEM School and a 2018 AP Access and Support School, according to state education officials.

AP STEM Schools are schools with students testing in at least two AP math courses and two AP science courses (AP calculus AB, AP calculus BC, AP statistics, AP biology, AP chemistry, AP environmental science, AP physics 1, AP physics 2, AP physics C, AP computer science A, AP computer science principles).

AP Access and Support Schools are schools with at least 30 percent of AP exams taken by students who identified themselves as African-American and/or Hispanic and 30 percent of all AP exams earning scores of 3 or higher.

“Georgia’s schools continue to expand opportunities for their students, including through their AP offerings,” Woods said. “We know the AP program produces strong results – for example, the graduation rate for students who complete just one AP course is 98 percent.

“I commend the school leaders who are expanding access for their students and the students and teachers in each of these schools who continue to pursue high-level learning.”

Georgia saw a 14 percent increase in the amount of AP STEM Achievement Schools. The schools have students testing in at least two AP math courses and two AP science courses and at least 40 percent of exam scores on AP math and AP science exams earning scores of 3 or higher.

Georgia also saw an increase in the amount of AP STEM Schools – which have students testing in at least two AP math courses and at least two AP science courses, according to state school officials.

AP exams are administered by the college board, which also administers the SAT. AP courses are one of several ways Georgia students can access college-level learning at the high-school level; students who receive a 3, 4 or 5 on an AP exam may receive college credit.

The 2018 AP Honor Schools are named in six categories, based on the results of 2017 AP courses and exams.