Four students and one educator from Irmo High School represented School District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties at South Carolina AP Day, held at the South Carolina State House. Hosted by the College Board, the event brought together students, teachers, and education leaders from across the state to advocate for the value and impact of Advanced Placement (AP) programs.
Irmo High School participants included seniors Logan Rice and Grant Burdick, junior Kennedy Hampton, freshman John “Mills” Moody, and AP Government & Politics teacher Eric Coleman. The group was among 14 students and three educators statewide selected to attend.
The day began with a welcome session and keynote address from State Superintendent Ellen Weaver, followed by a walk to the State House where participants engaged directly with legislators and policy advisors. Throughout the morning, students and educators shared their personal AP experiences and discussed how AP courses build confidence and prepare students for college and careers.
“South Carolina AP Day was an amazing learning experience for me,” said Moody. “It taught me how to be a better leader, a better advocate for my school, and how AP can lead me to a path of leadership.”
Participants observed the legislative process firsthand, including sessions of both the South Carolina House of Representatives and Senate, where they were formally recognized. Students also had the opportunity to meet with members of the General Assembly, including Senator Greg Hembree of the Senate K-12 Education Finance Subcommittee and their local representative, Senator Ronnie W. Cromer.
“Today was an experience I’ll never forget — exploring the Capitol while conversing with state leaders taught me so much about the history of our state and what academics, specifically AP, can do for students,” said Rice.
Kennedy Hampton echoed this sentiment by discussing how it contributes to her career goals, “Today was such an amazing experience. It increased my love of government and my passion to become an attorney and eventually work in the State House.”
“AP Day provided a unique opportunity for our students to see civics in action while advocating for educational opportunities that have had a meaningful impact on their academic journeys,” said Coleman. “It was inspiring for me to see them use their voices to advocate for educational experiences that mean a lot to them.”
School District Five offers 32 of the 40 available Advanced Placement courses, providing students with broad access to rigorous, college-level coursework while still in high school.
South Carolina remains a national leader in supporting Advanced Placement, offering comprehensive resources such as state-funded AP exam fees for public school students, professional development for educators, and guaranteed college credit at public institutions for qualifying AP scores. These efforts aim to expand access to rigorous coursework and ensure more students can benefit from AP opportunities.
