College Park Academy seniors earn $31.9 million in scholarships

College Park Academy’s seniors are leaving with more than diplomas. The 86-member Class of 2026 earned more than $31.9 million in scholarships and financial awards, a haul that underscores how tightly the Riverdale Park school ties academics, service and college planning together.

Prince George’s County Public Schools said the class completed 810 Advanced Placement courses in all, an average of 9.4 AP classes per student. Every senior finished at least six AP courses before graduation, and Diego Villatoro led the group with 18 AP courses during his high school career. Those numbers help explain why College Park Academy has built a reputation as one of the county’s most demanding college-preparatory options.

The scholarship total is eye-catching, but it also raises a harder question for families across Prince George’s County: how many schools can turn that kind of academic intensity into measurable financial relief for students? For parents weighing tuition, transportation and housing costs, scholarship offers can determine whether college feels possible at all, not just desirable.

The class’s achievements go well beyond AP testing. PGCPS said 13 students earned the Maryland Seal of Biliteracy, a school record, and 17 students received AP Scholar recognition from the College Board. More than half of the graduates finished with a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher, and 86 percent plan to attend college after graduation.

College Park Academy’s dual-enrollment numbers show how the school pushes students toward college work before they leave high school. More than half of the seniors completed at least one dual-enrollment course, and two students earned more than 30 college credits before graduating. That means some graduates are not starting from zero when they reach a campus in College Park, Largo or beyond.

Service remains part of the school’s culture as well. The class logged 6,852 community service hours over four years, linking academic performance to civic responsibility. In a county where many families want schools that do more than prepare students for tests, College Park Academy is offering a model built around blended learning, college credit and a direct pipeline to higher education.

The real test for Prince George’s County is whether that level of support can be broadened, so more students at more schools can leave with the same mix of credentials, confidence and scholarship money.