Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) is pleased to share that the College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies course will be offered in GCPS this school year. Team GCPS came to this decision after State Superintendent Richard Woods announced earlier today that the AP African American Studies course will be added to the state-funded course catalog effective “immediately.”

Now that classes have begun, we are working with the impacted schools to ensure they are able to make necessary schedule adjustments. If schools can readjust their schedules, the students who signed up for the course last spring will have the option to change their schedule and take the course as planned. Details about schedule changes will be handled at each school with impacted students over the next few days.

“While this is a victory in many ways, the State Superintendent’s actions caused undue burden on our schools and pain to many in our community, including our students,” GCPS Superintendent Dr. Calvin J. Watts shares. “However, I am grateful for the collective advocacy of our students, families, staff, and community to do what is right for our students. I am sorry that we went through this, but I am happy that in the end, our students can take this course and receive the full AP experience and rewards of completing the course successfully.”

The successful state-approved pilot of the AP course in GCPS last school year resulted in 98 of the 99 students performing well enough on the AP exam to earn college credit, and the AP course is reflected on their transcript. GCPS continues to believe the AP African American Studies course is crucial in promoting educational excellence, equity, and understanding across diverse student populations, and we are proud to offer this as an advanced placement course option for GCPS students.