One Gainesville High School student earned the ‘Top in World’ score on the Cambridge English Language Exam, and another earned the ‘Top in the U.S.A’ score on the Cambridge Chemistry exam. 

Cambridge Assessment International Education announced that senior Sasha Folkers earned the top score in the world on the English exam, and senior Oscar Conklin earned the top score in the nation on the chemistry exam. 

The recognitions denote that Folkers and Conklin earned the highest standard mark in their subjects in the world and nation, respectively. Other learners could score the exact same mark and receive the same recognition. 

Both students are enrolled in GHS’s Cambridge program, an academic magnet for high-achieving students, affiliated with Cambridge University in the United Kingdom. The Cambridge program, offered across the world, gives students the opportunity to earn a Cambridge diploma as well as college credits for high scores on Cambridge exams. 

More than 630,000 students worldwide take Cambridge exams each year, and more than 1000 U.S. colleges and universities offer credit for Cambridge exams. 

A total of 92 GHS students and one Newberry High School student won Cambridge International awards for their performance this year in Cambridge courses and on exams. 

Five of those GHS students earned Scholar Awards with Distinction, meaning they earned exceptionally high scores on three or more Cambridge exams. Those students include seniors Elizabeth Chapman and Fiona Zeyl and 2024 graduates Emma Ferrell, Mahak Reji and Adeline Schmidt. 

“We are incredibly proud of our students for their outstanding achievements on the global stage,” GHS principal Dan Ferguson said in a press release. “Earning Top in the World and Top in the U.S. honors from Cambridge International Education is a testament to their hard work, the dedication of our teachers, and the culture of excellence we strive to foster at GHS.” 

Gainesville High School consistently scores above the national average on all Cambridge exams, according to a press release. GHS has offered the Cambridge curriculum and exams to students in their magnet program since 2004. The Cambridge program at GHS is available to select qualifying students who live in Alachua County.