2026-2027 Program Updates | AP Capstone Program
AP Capstone Comes to Christ Academy — A First for Wichita Falls
This fall, Christ Academy will become the first school in Wichita Falls to offer the AP Capstone™ program, and we could not be more excited about what this means for our students.
When we announced new High School programming for 2026–2027 earlier this spring, we shared a brief introduction to AP Capstone alongside our other upcoming additions. Now that enrollment is underway, we want families to understand more fully what this opportunity is, what it asks of students, and why we believe it is such a meaningful fit for CA.
What Is AP Capstone?
AP Capstone is a two-year program developed by the College Board that equips students with the kind of skills colleges and employers most value: the ability to research independently, think critically across disciplines, communicate with clarity and confidence, and defend their ideas with evidence. It is built around two sequential courses — AP Seminar in year one and AP Research in year two.
In AP Seminar, students explore complex, real-world issues from multiple perspectives, work collaboratively, and present their findings to an authentic audience. In AP Research, each student designs and completes an independent research project (a genuine, original investigation) and defends it in a scholarly presentation.
Students who earn qualifying scores in both courses, along with four additional AP exams, are eligible to receive the AP Capstone Diploma™ — a credential that signals to colleges a student's readiness for rigorous, university-level work.
Who Is Leading It?
This program will be led by John Starling, one of our High School faculty members who is deeply invested in helping CA students rise to their full potential. See the above video and hear about his passion for this course.
Why This Matters
At Christ Academy, we have always believed that a great education shapes the whole student — not just what they know, but how they think, how they lead, and how they carry themselves into the world. AP Capstone is one of the most compelling academic programs available to high schoolers today precisely because it does just that. It teaches students to ask better questions, pursue answers with integrity, and communicate their convictions well.
For families with students in high school, we encourage you to reach out to our guidance counselor to learn whether AP Capstone might be the right next step.
We are grateful for the way the Lord continues to open doors, placing the right people, programs, and opportunities in our path at exactly the right time. This is one of them.