Baker High School has been invited to join the Advanced Placement Capstone program, a highly selective academic track offered by the College Board that recognizes schools with strong track records on AP exams.
Principal Clem Richardson announced the invitation during a Mobile County school board work session, calling it a significant milestone for the west Mobile school. The recognition follows a standout showing on AP exams the previous spring, when Baker produced 49 AP Scholars — students who scored a 3 or better on at least three AP exams — more than any other high school in the Mobile County system. Davidson High followed with 33 AP Scholars and Murphy High with 31.
The AP Capstone program is structured differently from standard AP coursework. According to the College Board, which administers the program nationally, it is designed to build research, collaboration, writing, and presentation skills that mirror the rigor of college-level scholarship. Students in the program must ultimately research, write, and defend an academic thesis, a format Richardson compared to the structure of a doctoral program.
Joining the program places Baker in rare company. At the time of the announcement, only two other Alabama high schools held AP Capstone status. Nationally, the list of participating schools remains short as well, with just a handful in states like New York, Tennessee, Georgia, and the Carolinas. The program’s reach extends beyond the United States, including schools in Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, and China, giving Baker students a level of academic recognition that stretches well past the Gulf Coast.
Mobile County Schools Superintendent Martha Peek praised the invitation as both an honor and a challenge. She noted that the designation will require extra commitment from both staff and students to meet the program’s demands, but said the district is proud to see Baker positioned as a pacesetter among Alabama schools.
The recognition comes as Mobile County has steadily expanded Advanced Placement offerings across its twelve high schools in recent years. Students who pass AP exams can earn college credit, reducing the cost and time needed to complete a degree. Exams cost $85 each, though the district covers a portion of that cost for students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, part of a broader push to make advanced coursework accessible regardless of family income.
The school system also provides after-school study sessions and test preparation materials to help students succeed on exam day. School officials say the AP Capstone designation should further strengthen Baker’s college-readiness programs and give students an additional pathway toward competitive university admissions.