Fueling Success Through Investment in AP Exams, Industry Certification, and Dual Credit
The Bardstown Foundation for Excellence in Public Education believes financial barriers should never stand between a student and their potential.
For the second year in a row, our community’s investment in Bardstown High School students has produced unprecedented results. Thanks to the Foundation’s Student Opportunities Initiative, more Tigers than ever before took on college-level coursework, earned college credit, and received national honors—all at zero cost to their families.
This year’s numbers demonstrate clear momentum: when our donors remove financial obstacles, Bardstown students rise to the challenge across AP testing, dual-credit coursework, and industry certifications.
Unlocking Opportunity Across Three Key Areas
Through donor funding, the Foundation completely covers 100% of AP exam fees, supports dual-credit course costs, and covers industry certification exams. Here is how your investment paid off for BHS students last year:
Advanced Placement (AP) Honors: Record-Breaking Recognition
By covering every AP exam fee, the Foundation enabled 87 BHS students to earn passing scores (3 or higher), unlocking early college credit and saving families thousands in future tuition.
A school-record 48 Tigers earned national AP Scholar recognition from the College Board across three prestigious categories:
29 AP Scholars (scored 3+ on three or more exams)
8 AP Scholars with Honor (average score of 3.25+ across four or more exams)
11 AP Scholars with Distinction (average score of 3.5+ across five or more exams)
BHS students also far exceeded Kentucky state pass-rate averages in key subjects:
AP Art: 100% Pass Rate
AP Physics: 87% Pass Rate (10 points above state average)
AP Precalculus: 87% Pass Rate (10 points above state average)
AP Human Geography: 82% Pass Rate (20 points above state average)
AP Language: 82% Pass Rate (20 points above state average)
Dual Credit: Head Start on Higher Education
Dual credit allows high schoolers to earn real college and high school credit simultaneously. Last year, 307 students took 446 dual-credit courses—meaning 45% of the entire BHS student body (307/680) engaged in college-level learning before graduation.
To ensure all students could participate, the Foundation directly paid for 79 dual credit courses.
Direct Financial Impact: Based on Kentucky’s standard dual credit rate (~$297 per 3-credit course), this investment provided over $23,000 in direct tuition savings ($23,463 total) for local families. At standard university tuition rates, these family savings jump to over $40,000!
Industry Certifications: Workplace Readiness
Opportunity isn't one-size-fits-all. Last year, 172 Bardstown students earned industry-recognized credentials across five key career sectors:
Health Science: 77 certifications
Construction: 44 certifications
Business & Marketing: 18 certifications
Culinary & Hospitality: 17 certifications
Engineering: 16 certifications
Students earned workforce credentials, including Medicaid Nurse Aide (MNA), Phlebotomy, EKG Technician, ServSafe, Home Builders Institute (HBI), NOCTI CAD Foundation, and more.
For some students, these credentials give them a distinct competitive edge when entering college healthcare or engineering programs. For others, they lead directly to immediate employability and high-demand job offers right after graduation. Both outcomes matter deeply to our community.
Investing in the Future of Bardstown
When you support the Bardstown Foundation for Excellence in Public Education, you don't just fund test fees. You fund workforce development, college affordability, and lifelong success.
When you see an AP Scholar yard sign around town, know that your support helped put it there!
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