There is abundant qualitative and quantitative evidence that Advanced Placement Chemistry students are as successful as any chemistry students in the state who take an AP Chemistry class.
Success in the US International Chemistry Olympiad
For the past two years Rocky students have dominated the state level exam in the US International Chemistry Olympiad. Since 1985 the Chemistry Olympiad test has been designed by the American Chemical Society to find the top 20 students in the USA to compete at the international level. It is widely regarded as being even more challenging than the Advanced Placement test in chemistry and is an excellent measure of success in chemistry.
In 1998 and again in the 1999 competition Rocky Mountain students have had the top scores on the Colorado Section exam in the US International Chemistry Olympiad. In 1999, eight of the top twenty chemistry students in Colorado were from Rocky Mountain High School. In 1998 Rocky placed six in the top twenty statewide. By comparison, in 1999 Cherry Creek HS was second overall to RMHS in the Chemistry Olympiad placing 5 students in the top twenty.
Success in the Elsie Nicol Chemistry Competition
For 25 years Rocky has dominated the Elsie K. Nicol Chemistry Competition winning 15 of 25. Each year the best chemistry students from PSD high schools are chosen to participate in an oral interview with CSU chemistry professors. Any question pertaining to chemistry is valid and the winner is the student who demonstrates the best knowledge of chemistry and who can think on his or her feet under pressure. Fifteen of the twenty-five students recognized by the CSU Chemistry Department since 1976 as the outstanding chemistry students in PSD have been Rocky students. By comparison, six FCHS and four PHS students have received the award.