El Dorado County Students Outpace State AP Average
PLACERVILLE, Calif. — Students in the El Dorado Union High School District delivered an exceptional performance on the 2026 Advanced Placement exams, posting an average score of 4.65 out of 5, according to district results.
That figure was substantially higher than the reported California average of 3.6, highlighting the academic performance of students across EDUHSD and the preparation provided by teachers throughout the district.
Advanced Placement, commonly known as AP, gives high school students the opportunity to take college-level courses while still in high school and complete standardized exams administered through the College Board. AP exams are scored from 1 to 5. The College Board describes a score of 3 as “qualified,” while 4 is considered “very well qualified” and 5 “extremely well qualified.” Colleges and universities establish their own policies for awarding credit or advanced placement.
EDUHSD offers AP courses at its high schools throughout El Dorado County. The district says its AP program provides students with challenging coursework designed to develop the critical-thinking skills expected of college students.
More Students Taking on the Challenge
For educators, however, the significance of the 2026 results goes beyond the districtwide average.
Colleen Guglielmana, an AP teacher at Union Mine High School, said one of the most encouraging developments has been the broader range of students entering advanced coursework and succeeding.
“What stands out most is not only how exceptionally our students performed, but also the increasing diversity of students who are accessing AP courses and successfully rising to the challenge,” Guglielmana said.
Guglielmana said AP classrooms increasingly include students with different backgrounds and learning needs, including students who may not initially have viewed themselves as AP students.
“Seeing those students enter rigorous courses, develop confidence and thrive is one of the most meaningful indicators of our progress,” she said.
The district’s current AP offerings demonstrate the breadth of advanced coursework available to local students. Union Mine, for example, lists AP courses including chemistry, Spanish language, calculus, statistics, environmental science, studio art, English literature, U.S. government and politics, macroeconomics and U.S. history.
EDUHSD currently serves more than 6,300 students, according to the California Department of Education. The district encompasses public high schools including El Dorado, Oak Ridge, Ponderosa and Union Mine, along with other educational programs.
Preparation Begins Long Before the Exam
Guglielmana said successful AP performance is not something students simply achieve during the weeks leading up to an exam.
Instead, she said, students develop the foundation over time by learning to read closely, write clearly, think critically, ask questions and continue working when the material becomes difficult.
Union Mine student Jasmine Naranjo experienced that progression firsthand.
Her AP courses challenged her academically while requiring her to balance assignments, projects and exams with other responsibilities.
“I am most proud that I was able to push myself and persevere throughout my AP experience,” Naranjo said. “Being able to push past those barriers and learn to be consistent has shown me that because of these difficulties, I was able to progress and grow academically.”
Naranjo said her teachers provided frequent opportunities to practice for the AP exams while maintaining classrooms where mistakes and questions were treated as part of the learning process.
When her score arrived, she said she felt both relieved and proud that the preparation had paid off.
Ponderosa Emphasizes Practice and Peer Review
At Ponderosa High School, AP Language and Composition teacher Rachelle Hodson takes a deliberate approach to preparing students for the demands of the exam.
Students begin the school year writing practice essays with generous time to complete them. As their skills develop, Hodson gradually reduces the available writing time.
By the end of the course, students are practicing under conditions designed to mirror the AP examination, including writing three essays within the allotted time.
Students also anonymously review one another’s work.
The exercise exposes students to different approaches to the same writing prompt while giving them an opportunity to see how AP-level work is evaluated.
“It exposes them to other students’ writing and how they may be approaching the prompt differently or thinking about something they had not considered,” Hodson said.
Hodson also works with AP teachers at other schools within EDUHSD to exchange assignments and teaching strategies. That collaboration can be particularly useful when an individual teacher is the only instructor at a school teaching a particular AP subject.
Ponderosa Students Encourage Others to Try AP
Ponderosa seniors Neri Britton and Jacee Plant took Hodson’s AP Language and Composition course as juniors. Both earned passing scores and are continuing their advanced studies in AP Literature this year.
Britton said students considering an AP course should take advantage of the opportunity to learn alongside their classmates.
“Get involved and participate because you are going to learn the most from your peers,” Britton said. “Everyone has a different way of processing things, and your classmates can really bring you up.”
Plant said students should not automatically rule out AP coursework because of test-taking challenges or different learning needs.
Instead, she encouraged students to choose subjects that interest them, seek assistance when necessary and advocate for themselves.
“If you have the passion and determination, you can absolutely do it,” Plant said. “Being able to advocate for yourself and know what you need in order to succeed is really important.”
Scores Tell Only Part of the Story
The 4.65 districtwide average gives EDUHSD students and educators plenty of reason to celebrate. But the teachers involved say the number represents only one part of a larger story.
For students, AP coursework can mean months of demanding assignments, timed writing, practice exams, discussions and revisions before they ever sit down for the official test.
For teachers, success can mean watching a student who once doubted their ability gradually develop the skills and confidence to tackle college-level work.
“What makes me most proud is seeing students accomplish difficult things, especially things they once believed might be beyond their reach,” Guglielmana said. “The final AP score is one measure of success, but we also have to recognize the process that makes that outcome possible.”
That distinction may be particularly important as EDUHSD continues expanding access to advanced coursework.
The district currently advertises more than 20 AP course options across its schools, giving El Dorado County students opportunities to pursue college-level academics before graduation.
The 2026 results suggest that students are not simply enrolling in those courses. They are meeting the challenge — and, in many cases, exceeding it.
Sources: El Dorado Union High School District AP program information and 2026 district results; California Department of Education district profile; College Board AP scoring information.
Contact Information:
Julianne Pereira
(530) 622-5081 x7225
media@eduhsd.k12.ca.us
