Student Research Takes the Spotlight at Annual AP Capstone Showcase in Round Rock, Texas

For more than seven years, Round Rock Independent School District in Texas has proudly hosted its annual AP Capstone™ Showcase—an event highlighting the final projects of students enrolled in the AP^® Research course, part of the AP Capstone program. This year’s showcase, held at Cedar Ridge High School, brought together AP Research students from Cedar Ridge, McNeil, and Round Rock high schools. It offered the students an opportunity to present their yearlong investigations to peers, families, and the broader community and to demonstrate the depth of their research, as well as the skills they've developed through this rigorous academic program.

The AP Capstone Diploma™ program is built on two cornerstone courses—AP Seminar and AP Research—that emphasize critical thinking, research, collaboration, time management, and presentation skills. Unlike traditional AP courses that focus on specific subject matter, AP Capstone takes an interdisciplinary approach, which allows students to explore topics they’re genuinely passionate about. Students who score 3 or higher in both AP Seminar and AP Research, as well as on four additional AP Exams, earn the prestigious AP Capstone Diploma. Those who meet the requirements for the two courses alone receive the AP Seminar and Research Certificate™.

This year’s showcase reflected a wide spectrum of interests, and student projects covered topics like mental health, artificial intelligence, marketing strategies, and analyses of pop culture shows. Erin Balfour, an AP teacher at McNeil High School, praised the program for its unique ability to give students an academic outlet for personal interests. “The program is so unique and allows students to genuinely pursue passions that don’t have a space anywhere else in the curriculum,” she said.

One such student, Bailey, focused his AP Research project on his favorite manga series. “I didn’t expect to do something that I was really enthusiastic about, and AP Research allowed me to do that,” he said. “I felt more motivated, and it’s the most fun I’ve ever had in school.”

This year’s showcase concluded with a milestone moment: Round Rock ISD’s first-ever AP Capstone cording ceremony. While AP scores won’t be released until later this summer, the ceremony recognized senior students who are on track to earn either the AP Capstone Diploma or the AP Seminar and Research Certificate.

In her opening remarks, Michelle Swain, director of Gifted and Advanced Academic Services at Round Rock ISD, emphasized the real-world impact of the students' work. “Because of their research work, many of the students have already received grants, offers to publish their work, and even first-year research positions in college,” she proudly shared.

The AP Capstone Showcase continues to be a testament to the value of student voice and inquiry in education. The school’s commitment to fostering an environment where students thrive both academically and personally was evident in every heartfelt presentation and each well-earned cord draped across the shoulders of these future scholars.