Miami-Dade County Public Schools students earned qualifying scores on 73% of Advanced Placement exams in 2026, beating the statewide rate by five percentage points.

The College Board results, released by the district, show M-DCPS also matched the 73% global average among all AP test-takers. Florida's qualifying rate was 68%.

Don Soffer Aventura High already ranked among the top 2.5% of high schools in North America after earning the College Board's AP Platinum Honor Roll in both 2023 and 2024. In that recognition cycle, 98% of DSAHS seniors had taken at least one AP exam and 73% of seniors had scored 3 or higher on at least one AP exam, according to a November 2024 announcement from Charter Schools USA. That announcement said the school offered 23 AP courses alongside 24 University of Cambridge courses.

The district's five-year trajectory is steep. The number of AP exams earning qualifying scores jumped 88%, from 26,463 in 2022 to 49,863 in 2026. Student participation also grew, from 27,644 students in the 2021-22 school year to 36,593 in 2025-26.

The qualifying-score rate itself climbed 15 points over that span, from 58% in 2022 to 73% in 2026. Florida's rate rose from 54% to 68% over the same period, meaning M-DCPS widened its lead from four points to five.

A growing piece of the AP picture is the Capstone Diploma, awarded to students who score 3 or higher on AP Seminar, AP Research and four additional AP exams. A total of 688 M-DCPS students earned the credential in 2026, up from 266 in 2022.

Starting with the Class of 2026, the AP Capstone Diploma provides a pathway to the Florida Academic Scholars award under the Bright Futures Scholarship Program, according to the state's financial aid handbook. Students must also meet the program’s general eligibility and application requirements and complete 100 approved volunteer service hours, paid work hours or a combination of the two. For students graduating in 2029 or later, three of the four additional AP exams must satisfy high school graduation requirements in English language arts, mathematics, science or social studies; the fourth may be in a subject of the student’s choice.

At Don Soffer Aventura High, AP Seminar teacher Mastrangelo told the school's student newspaper, the Barracuda Bulletin, in March that her goal is for students to "leave this class feeling confident in their ability to research, analyze information and communicate effectively."

Principal Geoff McKee said in November 2024, when the school earned its Platinum Honor Roll recognition, that "success in these courses empowers our students to earn preferred admission and scholarships to top universities."