Results from latest AP Report

U.S. Public Schools: High School Class of 2009

Percentage of Students Scoring a 3

or Higher on an AP Exam During High School

This from the College Board:

Across the nation, educators and policymakers are helping a wider segment of the U.S. student population experience success in AP (see Table 1)

15.9 percent of the public school graduating class of 2009 had access to an AP experience that resulted in a score of 3 or higher — the score research shows to be indicative of students learning at levels that increase the likelihood of success in college. This achievement represents a significant and consistent improvement since the class of 2004, when 12.7 percent of graduates had experienced success in AP. Eighteen states equaled or exceeded the national percentage of 15.9 percent.

Increasing numbers of African American, Latino and American Indian students are participating in AP, but these students remain underserved (see Figure 2)

Hispanic or Latino students represent 15.9 percent of the public school graduating class of 2009, and 15.5 percent of the AP examinee population.

Black or African American students represent 14.5 percent of the public school graduating class of 2009, and 8.2 percent of the AP examinee population.

American Indian or Alaska Native students represent 1.2 percent of the public school graduating class of 2009, and 0.6 percent of the AP examinee population.

A number of individual public schools are recognized in the report because they have the largest number of African American and/or Latino students from the class of 2009 experiencing success in particular AP subjects. See Table 3 for details.

This year’s report shows the racial/ethnic demographics of the total graduating class compared to the racial/ethnic demographics of the AP population scoring a 3 or higher on an AP Exam (See Table 2). An equity and excellence gap appears when
traditionally underserved students comprise a smaller percentage of the successful student group than the percentage these students represent in the graduating class.

18 states have closed the equity and excellence gap for American Indian or Alaska Native students.

16 states have closed the equity and excellence gap for Hispanic or Latino students.
2 states have closed the equity and excellence gap for Black or African American students. More low-income students are participating and experiencing success in AP than ever before:

18.9 percent of AP examinees from the graduating class of 2009 were low-income students, up from 17.0 percent in the class of 2008 and 13.7 percent in the class of 2004.

Low-income students made up 14.7 percent of the students experiencing success in AP from the graduating class of 2009, compared to 13.4 percent from the class of 2008 and 11.7 percent from the class of 2004.

See State Reports for details.

Note: Because the number of low-income students in the total graduating class is not available, we are unable to report on equity and excellence gaps, as defined above, for low-income students.