Sage Ridge School: 90% AP Exam Pass Rate Reflects Unmatched Academic Rigor

It’s one thing to talk about academic excellence. It’s another to earn it, year after year, on a national stage.

This year, Sage Ridge School has once again been recognized with Platinum Distinction on the College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) School Honor Roll—a rare achievement that reflects both the strength of our AP program and the determination of our students to rise to the challenge of college-level coursework. This marks the highest level of AP distinction, earned by schools that not only offer access to AP courses, but also deliver strong performance and growth among their students.

Equally important, Sage Ridge was recognized for expanding access to rigorous academics. By ensuring a diverse range of students are supported and encouraged to pursue AP pathways, the school earned additional recognition aligned with the College Board’s AP Access Award.

“All of my AP teachers prepped us extremely well for the test, so much so that the tests felt easier than the actual class.” - Raghav Bhalla, Class of 2026

“I was given the privilege of taking three AP classes in my junior year and it was one of the best decisions I have made yet. The AP courses are rigorous but even more rewarding, and I did not feel anxiety before exams which was such a great feeling. The teacher that I felt most prepared me was Mrs. Deveza. She has students in her AP World and US History classes take practice tests weekly so we feel comfortable completing DBQs, LEQs, ABPs, and MCQs within the given time period and so we can feel confident that our scores will reflect the hard work we put in!” - Sophie Najjar, Class of 2026

In parallel with this achievement, Sage Ridge was once again named one of the Top 100 High Schools in the United States through the Challenge Index. Unlike traditional rankings, this list highlights schools where students are encouraged to take on real academic challenges—precisely the kind of education Sage Ridge believes in.

“Sage Ridge has a 90% pass rate across the board, which is absolutely remarkable, especially because every student taking an AP class at Sage Ridge takes the AP exam” - Emily Dolan, Assistant Head of School

At Sage Ridge School, we don’t hand-pick who takes AP exams—every student enrolled in an AP course sits for the exam. And still, our students deliver outstanding results. With a 90% overall AP pass rate, our performance speaks to the strength of our academic foundation and the dedication of our faculty.

Just how strong are those results? In core subjects, Sage Ridge students consistently outperform both Nevada and global averages, as shown in these pass rates:

• English Literature & Composition:
  Sage Ridge – 100% | Nevada – 69.8% | Global – 72.8%
   
• Calculus AB:
  Sage Ridge – 100% | Nevada – 56.8% | Global – 64.4%
   
• Biology:
  Sage Ridge – 100% | Nevada – 66.2% | Global – 70.5%
   
• U.S. History:
  Sage Ridge – 100% | Nevada – 59.3% | Global – 74.3%
   

This kind of performance isn’t the result of test prep—it’s the result of years of strong teaching, academic integrity, and a learning culture that embraces challenge. At Sage Ridge, excellence is not the exception. It’s the norm.

And closer to home, Niche.com’s 2025 rankings confirmed what our families already know: Sage Ridge remains the #1 Private K–12, Private High School, and College Prep School in the Reno area, with an A+ overall rating.