Miami-Dade County Public Schools students earned scores of 3 or higher on 73% of Advanced Placement exams in 2026, exceeding Florida's statewide rate of 68% by five percentage points.

The College Board results, announced by the district Friday, Oct. 16, also showed an 88% increase in the number of qualifying AP exam scores over five years. Students earned scores of 3 or higher on 49,863 exams in 2026, compared with 26,463 in 2022.

Participation in AP coursework also increased, from 27,644 students during the 2021-22 school year to 36,593 in 2025-26.

AP exams are scored on a five-point scale. A score of 3 or higher may qualify students for college credit, depending on the institution's policies.

Coral Reef Senior High among state's top-ranked schools

The districtwide gains come as Coral Reef Senior High School, which serves students from Palmetto Bay and surrounding communities, continues to rank among Florida's leading public high schools.

According to the school's U.S. News & World Report profile, approximately 78% of students participated in AP testing. The school's reported AP performance measures also reflect substantial participation in college-level coursework.

Coral Reef ranked 37th in Florida and 371st nationally in U.S. News' 2026-27 Best High Schools rankings.

Across Miami-Dade, the percentage of AP exams earning qualifying scores has increased steadily over the past five years.

In 2022, 58% of district AP exams earned scores of 3 or higher, compared with 54% statewide. The district's rate rose to 67% in 2024, 72% in 2025 and 73% in 2026.

The latest result matched the global rate of 73% for qualifying AP exam scores, according to the district.

AP Capstone Diplomas increase 158% in five years

Miami-Dade students also earned more AP Capstone Diplomas, a credential recognizing advanced academic research and college-level coursework.

A total of 688 district students earned the diploma in 2026, compared with 266 in 2022, an increase of approximately 158%.

To receive an AP Capstone Diploma, students must earn scores of 3 or higher on both AP Seminar and AP Research exams, along with four additional AP exams of their choosing.

The credential also provides a pathway to Florida's Bright Futures Scholarship program.

Beginning with the Class of 2026, students who earn an AP Capstone Diploma can qualify for the Florida Academic Scholars award without meeting the standard SAT, ACT or CLT score requirement.

Under the state's Bright Futures Student Handbook, students using the AP Capstone pathway must also complete 100 hours of qualifying volunteer service or paid work and satisfy other applicable scholarship requirements.

Bright Futures applications open for Class of 2027

The Florida Financial Aid Application window for students graduating during the 2026-27 school year opened Oct. 1, 2026, and runs through Aug. 31, 2027.

Eligible students must submit the application to be considered for Bright Futures funding.

The district's AP results reflect increased participation in advanced coursework alongside higher rates of qualifying exam scores.

For Miami-Dade families, those gains could translate into additional opportunities to earn college credit before graduation and pursue state scholarship funding.