State Superintendent Richard Woods Monday named 69 Advanced Placement Merit Schools, 37 in metro Atlanta.

The honor recognizes schools in which at least 20 percent of the total student population take AP exams and at least 50 percent of all AP exams earn scores of 3 or higher. Students who receive a 3, 4 or 5 on an AP exam may receive college credit.

Gwinnett County Schools led the state with 13 AP Merit Schools. The number of AP Merit Schools increased by eight this year.

“Merit” is one of six categories of AP Honor Schools. Woods named 674 AP Honor Schools this year, 52 more than last year.

“The number of our schools and students succeeding in the college-level learning offered by Advanced Placement continues to increase,” Woods said. “It is my pleasure to recognize these schools – and, by extension, their students, teachers, and staff – for the excellent work being done to expand opportunity to all students.”