Parents of high school students can attest to the ever increasing importance of AP Exam scores. And, according to the sixth annual AP Report to the Nation from the College Board, the test is paying off for Maryland students who led the nation for the second consecutive year with the highest percentage (24.8) of public school students scoring at least a 3 on an AP Exam. Florida attained the largest single-year increase in the percentage of high school graduates who scored a 3 or higher on an AP Exam, while Virginia achieved the largest five-year gain.
Nearly 16 percent of the public high school class of 2009 achieved at least one AP Exam score of 3 or higher � the score that college admissions offers believe is predictive of college success � more students than ever before are participating in rigorous course work and succeeding, says Gaston Caperton, president of the College Board. Additionally, this class stands out as having the most diverse student participation in AP history.
According to the report, of the estimated 3 million students who graduated from U.S. public schools in 2009, more than 479,000 (15.9 percent) earned an AP Exam score of at least a 3 on one or more AP Exams during their high school tenure, up from 15.2 percent in 2008 and 12.7 percent in 2004.
"This positive trend is encouraging, and I commend students and educators for their hard work and success," Caperton said. "Credit goes to educators at all levels and policymakers whose diligence has ensured more students are able to take AP courses and do well on the exams."
The report also highlights the seven states with the highest five-year gains: Virginia, Maryland, Georgia, Maine, Colorado, Vermont and Florida. Additionally, Maryland, New York, Virginia, Massachusetts, Florida, Connecticut, California and Colorado all saw more than 20 percent of their public school students graduate from high school having earned an AP Exam score of 3 or higher. AP achievements for each state's class of 2009, class of 2008 and class of 2004 are detailed in the report.
"It should be noted that initiatives that provide instruction as early as middle school are helping students build skills and confidence," Caperton says. "These initiatives are preparing students for strong academic careers that culminate in college success and open doors to a lifetime of opportunity."
The report, however, notes that an equity and excellence gap appears when traditionally underserved students -- such as African American, Latino or American Indian students -- constitute a smaller percentage of the group of students experiencing success in AP than the percentage these students represent in the overall graduating class. Although the gap has been closed in some places, inequity in preparation and access continues to exist in many states across the country. This means that despite strides that have been made by educators to provide traditionally underrepresented students with access to AP courses, more work remains.
Sixteen states have successfully closed the equity and excellence gap for Hispanic or Latino students, and as of 2009, two states � Hawaii and Montana � have eliminated the gap for African American students. While 18 states have closed the gap for American Indian or Alaska Native students, no state with a substantial student population in this demographic has eliminated the gap.
Additionally, 15 schools lead the nation in the number of African American and/or Latino students succeeding in particular AP subjects, and the report celebrates the example these schools are setting in California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan and Texas. (See "Schools with the Largest Numbers of African American and Latino Students Experiencing Success in AP," page 12, and the corresponding Table 3, page 13, for details.)
"For the well-being of our nation, we must do all we can to reach the nation's long-term education goals," Caperton says. "This is the time to build on our momentum and renew our focus, reaching out to every student along the way."
Source: The College Board
Writer: Walaika Haskins