Virginia, Georgia and Florida Students Score Remarkable Achievement in AP®

Feb. 2012

Southern News

The 8th Annual AP® Report to the Nation, released today by the College Board, finds that an increasing percentage of public high school graduates in Virginia, Georgia and Florida are succeeding on AP Exams, affirming the vision of educators that many more students deserve access to this type of course work. Nearly 26 percent of Virginia public high school graduates scored a 3 or higher on an AP Exam during high school, which is the third-highest rate in the nation and far exceeds the national average of 18.1 percent. Georgia is one of just nine states in the nation to have achieved AP equity and excellence for its Hispanic/Latino graduates.

“This year’s AP Report to the Nation highlights the tremendous progress and success of students and educators. It is not a coincidence that outstanding people putting in outstanding effort yields outstanding results,” said College Board President Gaston Caperton. “And while there is still room to improve on access and preparation, I am confident that the AP community will continue to grow and will continue to offer all students the opportunity to succeed in college and beyond.”

The number of Virginia public high school graduates participating in AP has nearly doubled in the last decade, and more than 20,000 students from the graduating class of 2011 scored a 3 or higher on at least one AP Exam during high school — also nearly double the number of successful students from the class of 2001.

Just over 40 percent (32,212) of graduates from Virginia’s public high school class of 2011 took at least one AP Exam during high school, compared to 30.7 percent (22,933) from the class of 2006. More than one-quarter (25.6 percent) of graduates from Virginia’s public high school class of 2011 scored a 3 or higher on at least one AP Exam during high school, compared to 19.7 percent (14,751) from the class of 2006.

The number of low-income graduates who took at least one AP Exam during high school more than doubled, from 1,199 in the class of 2006 to 3,117 in the class of 2011. The number of these students who scored a 3 or higher on at least one AP Exam increased from 549 to 1,309 during that time.

In Georgia, the number of public high school graduates participating in AP has more than doubled in the last decade, and more than 16,000 students from the graduating class of 2011 scored a 3 or higher on at least one AP Exam during high school — more than double the number of successful students from the class of 2001. Additionally, educators and administrators are providing more AP opportunities to underserved students. The number of black/African American students in Georgia’s public high school class of 2011 who participated in AP — 7,878 — has more than tripled since 2001, when 2,268 black/African American students graduated having taken an AP Exam in high school.

The number of Hispanic/Latino students who took at least one AP Exam during high school nearly tripled since the class of 2006, from 778 to 2,247 in the class of 2011. The number of these students who scored a 3 or higher on at least one AP Exam more than doubled during that time, from 492 to 1,245.

In Georgia, 7.1 percent of the graduating class of 2011 was Hispanic/Latino, and 7.6 percent of successful AP Exam takers from the 2011 graduating class were Hispanic/Latino, which means Georgia has achieved 100 percent AP equity and excellence for the Hispanic/Latino students.

Florida, too, has achieved AP equity and excellence for Hispanic/Latino students. Nearly 25 percent of Florida’s 2011 public school graduating class was composed of Hispanic/Latino students, and Hispanic/Latino students made up slightly more than 25 percent of the state’s public high school graduates who succeeded in AP.

Across the state, 23.9 percent (36,678) of graduates from Florida’s public high school class of 2011 scored a 3 or higher on at least one AP Exam during high school, compared to 17.3 percent (24,791) from the class of 2006.

The latest AP results highlight the tremendous success of Florida’s students. I am confident that we will continue to maximize efforts to prepare our children for the pathway to rigorous postsecondary work and 21st century careers,” said Florida Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson. “We are again recognized as the national leader in the percentage of our students participating in these vital courses; and, I am very proud of our teachers and school leaders for their remarkable work in the area of Advanced Placement.”

The 8th Annual AP Report to the Nation is available at http://apreport.collegeboard.org.