DCHS Students Soar with Gains in Advanced Placement Exams and Dual Credit Opportunities

Did you know that students at Decatur Central High School have the opportunity to earn up to 42 college credits before high school graduation? DCHS offers 12 Advanced Placement, or “AP” classes, which are college-level courses that prepare students for rigorous, college-level work and AP Exams. Earning qualifying scores on these standardized exams can grant students college credit, allow them to skip introductory college courses, and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement for college admissions. 

During the 2024-2025 school year, DCHS had 214 students participating in AP courses, with a total of 354 assessments taken between them. 120 students scored a 3 or higher on these exams, earning them college credit. That is a 21% increase from 2023-2024! Currently, for the 2025-2026 school year, 315 students are enrolled in AP courses.

556 students are enrolled in other dual credit courses, also with the potential to earn college credits before graduation through a local university partnership with Ivy Tech.

Michael Gath, Director of Secondary Education, shared, “I am Decatur Proud of the work and effort our teachers, counselors, and administrators have put into ensuring students are provided with amazing educational opportunities. I would also like to thank our students for pushing toward academic excellence in your journey toward being Tomorrow Ready!”

That’s not all though, Decatur Central High School students also earned an estimated $2,768,975 in scholarships in the spring of 2025  for post-secondary education. Way to go Hawks, keep soaring high!