AP Student Numbers Increase but Passing Scores Down Slightly

will continue looking at their Advanced Placement offerings to ensure students are getting the rigorous curriculum they desire and maximizing their chances to receive college credit.

The district has an open enrollment policy toward most classes, meaning that if a student wants more a demanding course, then he or she can sign up for it. Some Advanced Placement classes, such as English, math and science, however, require prerequisites in order to enroll.

Students have the option of taking a test at the end of the course to receive college credit.

On a five-point scale, most colleges give credit if a student receives a 4 or a 5 although a 3 is considered passing.

According to district data, in 2007, 66 percent of AP students received a 3 or greater on their test, whereas in 2011, 59 percent of students received the passing score.

Board Vice President Michelle Smith said she wondered if the district was pushing too many students too fast because of this drop in scores.

The district’s average AP score, however, remains fairly steady.

Students averaged a 2.9 score on their tests from 2007 to 2009 and a 2.8 the past two years, according to district data.

Glenn Wood, the district’s director of high school curriculum and instruction, said the district has been increasing the number of options students can take.

In 2006 the district only offered four courses. Last year students could choose among 24 different choices in foreign languages, math, science, history, English and economics.

The open enrollment policy has also allowed any student willing to embrace the challenges of an advanced course to do so, Wood said.

Overall, 1,570 students took 2,751 AP courses last school year. The year before, 1,359 students took 2,321 AP courses.

Enrollment also increased by about 13 percent among black students, 36 percent among Hispanic students, 7 percent among white students and 26 percent among Asian students.

Board Secretary Eric Gallt said increasing enrollment in advanced courses should prepare more students for the demands of college.

An “A+” student is expected to be successful in an advanced course, Gallt said. But a “B” student taking the advanced placement course will push themselves to learn more and better prepare for the next level, he said.

Carmen Ayala, the district’s superintendent for curriculum and instruction, said the number of students who take Advanced Placement classes shows that all students can rise to the challenges of a rigorous course.

The district is recommending adding more AP courses, including physics and macroeconomics, next year and improving access to these courses for all students.