Many Students with AP® Potential Still Missing from Courses

Feb. 2012

Programs and Services

While many schools and districts have expanded access to AP® courses, drawing prepared students into the rigors of an AP class remains a challenge across the country.

In The 8th Annual AP Report to the Nation, research highlights this challenge and opportunity. Hundreds of thousands of students who have the potential to succeed in an AP subject were either left out of the class or attended a school where the subject was not offered.

An analysis of nearly 771,000 graduates with AP potential found that nearly 478,000 (62 percent) did not take a recommended AP class. Underserved minorities appear to be disproportionately affected: 74 percent of American Indian/Alaska Native students, 80 percent of black/African American students, and 70 percent of Hispanic/Latino students. Among white students, 60 percent of those with AP potential did not take a recommended AP class; for Asian/Asian American/Pacific Islander students, the number was 42 percent.

Ensuring that students realize their full potential is a critical component to achieving the nation’s education goals. The College Board is committed to working with educators to help provide all students who have the potential to succeed in AP — regardless of location, ethnicity or socioeconomic status — with an opportunity to maximize their college years by having successful AP experiences.

While some students’ academic histories indicate their readiness for AP course work, this is not the case for all students. The College Board offers AP Potential™, a free research-driven, Web-based tool that helps identify students likely to succeed on AP Exams. This tool enables educators to analyze data and PSAT/NMSQT® scores, ensure that students with potential are not overlooked, and help determine which AP courses to offer at their schools.

Find more information about AP Potential.