Capstone Diploma Program for Miller Place Students

Miller Place High School to Enhance Students’ College and Career Readiness through Partnership with College Board

MILLER PLACE, NEW YORK (JANUARY 2021)—The Miller Place School District (MPSD) is proud to announce it will be implementing the AP Capstone Diploma program, an initiative through College Board that focuses on college-level research, collaboration, and presentation skills crucial for college and career success, beginning in Fall 2021.

“We are thrilled to be among only 2,000 schools in the world to implement this program for our students,” said Dr. Marianne Cartisano, superintendent of Miller Place Union Free School District. “This initiative will help enhance our District’s offerings by providing our staff with more leeway in curriculum choices and enable our students access to more challenging coursework.”

Students who qualify for the AP Capstone Diploma must score a 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research, as well as four additional AP Exams of their choice. Students scoring a 3 or higher in both AP Seminar and AP Research, but not on four additional AP Exams, earn the AP Seminar and Research Certificate.

AP Seminar, a project-based learning course typically taken by 10th or 11th grade students, requires students to choose and evaluate complex topics through multiple lenses, identify credibility and bias in sources, and develop arguments in support of a recommendation. Students’ scores are derived from a set of assessments, including research reports, written arguments, timed essays and presentations, that are completed throughout the year. 

AP Research, also a project-based course, has students build upon their skills acquired in AP Seminar through design, execution, presentation and investigation. The course teaches students how to understand research methodology; employ ethical research practices; and collect, analyze and synthesize information to contribute to academic research. Students’ scores are derived from their academic paper, presentation and oral defense.

“We’re proud to offer AP Capstone, which enables students and teachers to focus on topics of their choice in great depth,” said Trevor Packer, senior vice president for AP and instruction at College Board. He adds, “This provides terrific opportunities for students to develop the ability to write and present their work effectively, individually, and in groups—the very skills college professors want their students to possess.”