News Release: Haas Hall Academy - Fort Smith Recognized on AP School Honor Roll

Haas Hall Academy − Fort Smith Recognized on AP School Honor Roll
Fort Smith, AR – February 23, 2026 – The AP (Advanced Placement) School Honor Roll is an initiative of the 
College Board that was established in 2023 to recognize schools for outstanding performance in demonstrating 
a commitment to increase a college-going culture, maximize college readiness, and provide opportunities for 
scholars to earn college credit.
The AP Program offers undergraduate-level higher education curricula and examinations to high school 
students, who in return may receive course credit and placement at colleges and universities for qualifying 
scores. “AP” on one’s high school transcript shows that they are motivated to succeed and willing to tackle and 
complete college-level work.
The AP School Honor Roll recognizes school programs that are delivering results anchored in research-based 
relationships between AP and college outcomes. There are four levels of distinction – Bronze, Silver, Gold, and 
Platinum – awarded, based on:
▪ College Culture – Forty percent or more (40%+) of the graduating cohort took at least one AP Exam in 
high school.
▪ College Credit – Twenty five percent or more (25%+) of the graduating cohort scored three or higher 
on at least one AP Exam.
▪ College Optimization – Two percent or more (2%+) of the graduating cohort took five or more AP Exams 
during high school, with at least one taken in the ninth or tenth grade to spread out the AP experience.
As of December 2025, only twenty percent (20%) of the 251 qualifying schools in the state of Arkansas earned 
a place on the AP School Honor Roll. Of these, four percent (4%) or nine (9) schools were recipients of the 
Platinum designation, as compared to eight percent (8%) nationally. This included all five (5/9) of the Haas Hall 
Academy campuses, with the newest in Fort Smith (HHA-FS) achieving top-level recognition in its first year of 
eligibility.
The average percentage of the 2025 graduating cohort across all schools in Arkansas who met AP School Honor 
Roll criteria included: forty one percent (41%) took at least one AP Exam; eighteen percent (18%) scored three 
or more on at least one AP Exam; and six percent (6%) took five or more AP Exams with at least one being in 
ninth or tenth grade.
At Haas Hall Academy – Fort Smith, 100% of the school’s first graduating cohort took at least one AP Exam and 
75% scored three or more on one of the at least five or more AP Exams taken.
Overall, for 2025, 36% of all eligible schools nationwide received AP Honor Roll recognition, with 15% of the 
schools (including HHA-FS) being new. 19% of existing schools on the Honor Roll rose one or more tiers 
compared to their status last year. All four returning Haas Hall campuses (Bentonville, Fayetteville, Rogers, and 
Springdale) remained Platinum.
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About Haas Hall Academy
HHA’s mission is to provide an aggressive and positive alternative to the traditional learning environment for 
scholars with a high intensity of purpose, enabling them to succeed at the most prestigious colleges and 
universities in the country and around the world, and to become leaders of their communities and pillars of 
society.