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February 7, 2007

AP exam results rising, but is it time to cry uncle?

The College Board, which administers the Advanced Placement program, released a new report this week noting that 15 percent of students passed an AP exam in 2006, versus just 10 percent in 2000. The report also notes (via USA Today) that "racial gaps persist and "black and native American students remain 'significantly under-represented.'"

While the USA Today article points out general statistics, this piece by Jay Mathews of the Washington Post ponders, "How many Advanced Placement courses are enough?" According to the College Board, five is the magic number because "any more . . . might just be showing off." Particularly in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area (including the Maryland and Virginia suburbs), where about a third of graduating seniors took at least one AP test last year, the real concern is "AP overload." Nationwide though, the concern from the College Board is "not that high school students take on too much college-level work, but that they take on too little."

Nearly two and a half million AP tests were given last year in 37 different subjects, with about 24 percent of students taking at least one AP exam.

The five states with the highest percentage of public high school seniors with at least one credit-worthy AP test grade were: New York, 22.7 percent; Maryland, 22 percent; Utah 20.8 percent; Virginia, 20.7 percent; and California, 20.1 percent. The District's mark of 6.6 percent exceeded the percentage in 19 states. In addition, Maryland had the sharpest six-year increase in the nation; its mark in 2000 was 14.1 percent.

This should provide good fodder for those debating that American students are unprepared for higher level education and the workforce.

Posted February 7, 2007 3:40 PM | Students

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