Pep rallies usually celebrate athletic teams, but Wareham High School honored a certain group of students who excel academically on Thursday afternoon.

Wareham's veteran and novice Advanced Placement students started the year with the AP Kickoff, during which their accomplishments were celebrated and future AP students learned more about the benefits of taking challenging courses.

"The most important thing in school is your academic performance and sometimes I feel like we leave that celebration behind, and that's why we're here," said Debbie Freitas, assistant principal and Advanced Placement coordinator.

AP classes are offered in Wareham High School as early as sophomore year. The courses test students rigorously, preparing them for the academic difficulties of college.

The program expanded dramatically after the high school received a Massachusetts Mathematics and Science Initiative grant three years ago. Freitas said the number of qualifying scores have steadily increased since then.

In the previous school year, there were 32 qualifying AP scores from students who took the AP exams in May. Students who score at least a three, a "qualifying score," on a one to five scale on the exams are eligible to receive college credit at most two or four-year universities.

There were nine AP scholars who scored 3.25 on all the tests they took and at least a three on four or more AP tests.

"These students are no different from the superstars on the basketball team... they practice studying and learning, because it's important," said Freitas. "These people have the best chance at being successful in the years to come. Ten years from now, you are going to see these people in the cars they want to drive and the homes they want to be living in and the vacations they want to experience."

State Senator Marc R. Pacheco (D-Taunton) and State Representative Susan Williams Gifford (R-Wareham) were also at the rally, encouraging students to take AP courses.

"It's a choice everybody can make. Do you want to try it or not? I would urge you... give it a try. You've got, really, nothing to lose," said Pacheco. "You have an opportunity to provide more options for your future."

Two banners revealing the names of students who earned college credits were revealed during the rally and certificates were handed out.

The students with qualifying AP scores for 2016 were as follows: Jarred Bettencourt, Ryan Bonfiglio, Letitia Bottino, Joshua Childress, Kaitlin Dobbins, Hannah Eddleston, Paige Fenskens, Catalina Giron, Jack Goodwin-Gilson, Elizabeth Griffith, Kendal Haley, Kiah Heron, Madison Hough, Samantha King, Madison Koslowsky, Allison Maxim, Kaylee McManus, Brett McSherry, Joanna Mears, Joseph Nash, Alisha Papadakis, Evan Russell, Madisen Semple, Mikayla Sequeira, Lily Shepley, Jayla Silva, Erica Trask, Sara Tyma, Jackson Wallace, Yesenia Wallace, Noah Wambolt, and Lisa Wynne.

The 2016 AP Scholars were Fenskens, McSherry, Silva, Heron, Nash, Trask, King, Semple, and Wambolt.