Words by Tara Pollock, Director of Marketing and Communications
Land O’ Lakes, Fla. — Academy at the Lakes has been named a Platinum-level school on the 2025 AP School Honor Roll, the highest distinction awarded by the College Board. The recognition reflects the school’s exceptional commitment to college readiness, academic rigor, and early access to advanced coursework during the 2024–2025 school year.
Platinum recognition is reserved for a small group of schools nationwide that demonstrate both strong participation in Advanced Placement courses and meaningful student success. Academy at the Lakes not only met the criteria for Platinum status—it far exceeded them across every measure.
Exceeding Every Platinum Benchmark
The AP School Honor Roll evaluates schools in three key areas designed to support long-term college success:
Building a Strong College Culture
Platinum schools are expected to ensure that at least 80% of students experience an AP course before graduating. At Academy at the Lakes, 98% of the Class of 2025 met this milestone—demonstrating early exposure to college-level coursework as a norm, not an exception.
Supporting College Credit and Affordability
To earn Platinum recognition, schools must enable 50% of students to earn college credit by scoring a 3 or higher on an AP exam. Academy at the Lakes nearly doubled that benchmark, with 92% of the Class of 2025 earning qualifying scores—opening doors to college credit and reducing future tuition costs for families.
Optimizing College Readiness
The most rigorous Platinum criterion recognizes schools where 15% of students complete five or more AP courses, including at least one taken in 9th or 10th grade. At Academy at the Lakes, 67% of the Class of 2025 achieved this level of sustained academic challenge—more than four times the Platinum threshold.
Schoolwide Excellence in AP Performance
Across the entire Upper Division, Academy at the Lakes demonstrated consistently strong outcomes during the 2024–2025 academic year. With more than 300 AP exams administered, the school earned a 95% overall AP pass rate, the highest among all Tampa Bay–area schools, underscoring a culture of academic excellence supported by intentional instruction and student-centered support.
More than half of Upper Division students were enrolled in at least one AP course, reflecting the school’s commitment to broad access alongside high achievement.
In addition to Platinum status, Academy at the Lakes received the AP Access Award, recognizing schools that successfully support participation among low-income and underrepresented minority students. This honor highlights the school’s dedication to ensuring advanced academic opportunities are available to all students.
“Platinum recognition reflects the culture our faculty, counselors, and students have built together—one rooted in challenge, support, and confidence,” said Mark Heller, Head of School. “We are especially proud that these results represent both exceptional outcomes for our graduating class and strong performance across our entire school.”
Academy at the Lakes’ achievement places it among a small group of schools recognized for exceptional performance on the AP School Honor Roll. Of the more than 5,700 schools recognized across all levels, only 1,257 schools across the United States and Canada earned Platinum distinction—placing Academy at the Lakes among the top 8% of eligible schools honored for expanding access to advanced coursework while delivering outstanding student outcomes.
