Combining the Best of Ancient Wisdom & Modern Research for AP Success at Montrose
Each July, the College Board releases the year's Advanced Placement (AP) scores — and Montrose students distinguish themselves. 84% of Montrose students earned a passing score of 3 or higher (out of 5) over the 17 AP exams offered at Montrose this year. To set this score in context, the national average of students receiving 3 or higher is 22.6%; students in Massachusetts scored the highest in the nation, with 32.4% of Massachusetts students scoring 3 or higher.
What is the Montrose difference in AP success?
APs and the Montrose Mission
Montrose’s mission focuses on the pursuit of excellence because we recognize the expansive potential of each student to develop habits for a flourishing life. At Montrose, to flourish requires cultivating one’s gifts and talents in order to contribute to the common good. That process of cultivation requires knowing how to work well — with refined habits and with practical wisdom.
Montrose is highly selective about the AP courses we offer — selecting those AP courses that strengthen students’ knowledge and skills which we value in core subjects such as:
The mission of Montrose is inspired by the charism of Opus Dei, which means the work of God. Discovering one’s gifts, cultivating those gifts through purposeful and challenging work, and refining those gifts by developing masterful habits launches our students with the competence and confidence essential for flourishing life in all spheres — private, professional and civic. APs are one of many opportunities to challenge growth in excellence.
Pursuing excellence is about taking that next step to improve as outlined in our signature Habits of Mind, Heart and Character. Our students learn these habits directly through our virtue-taught curriculum in middle school and through our virtue-applied curriculum in upper school. Montrose integrates this focus on habits throughout our AP courses as well.
APs and Practical Wisdom
Finding the right level of challenge is unique for each individual. Some students may bypass AP options, others may maximize AP opportunities, and most students choose a measure of AP courses over their upper school years — with an average of 62% of upper school students participating in 2025 APs and with an average of 2-3 AP exams each.
At Montrose, students have layers of support to discern what AP choices each student might consider. Mentors and teachers collaborate with parents and our College Guidance team to assess each student’s interests and needs. Each student is unique and unrepeatable, and so decisions about AP courses are individualized.
Montrose’s Director of College Guidance, Dr. Kendra Millay, clarifies that the AP courses are standardized first-year college-level courses which provide students with “rigorous and stimulating coursework” that “can advantage students applying for highly selective universities.” In addition, some universities honor students who do well on AP exams with college credits.
Adding up Montrose’s AP Difference
1. Discernment. Montrose is discerning about what AP courses support the strength of our curriculum and habit goals for our students. In addition, Montrose is careful about how we advise each student to choose well among AP and non-AP options.
2. Expertise. Prominent among Montrose’s AP faculty are those with deep commitment to our mission and our students. And Montrose supports all AP faculty to receive certification and ongoing professional development to continue to improve their curriculum and pedagogy.
3. Attunement. Montrose faculty offer generous extra support to students and adapt to the evolving needs of each cohort of AP scholars to position students for success. The most significant feedback from students was how well-prepared they felt for their AP exams. Teachers noted that our transformational and innovative schedule enhanced learning momentum and memory retention for students.