Howard County Students’ Advanced Placement Exam Performance and Participation Remain High

February 26th, 2016

Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) students continue to perform at high levels on Advanced Placement (AP) exams, and to outperform their peers around the state and nation, according to recent data released by the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE).

Among graduating seniors in 2015, 45.7 percent earned a score of 3 or higher, compared to 31.7 percent for seniors throughout Maryland, and a full percentage point increase over the performance of 2014 HCPSS graduates. According to MSDE, Maryland students have led the nation in AP performance for the last 10 consecutive years.

AP exam participation among HCPSS students is also growing rapidly. During the 2014–2015 school year, 4,481 HCPSS students took a total of 9,920 AP exams, compared to 4,287 test takers and 9,464 exams taken during the prior year.

“It is extremely encouraging to see more and more of our students pursuing college-level work while still in high school,” said Dr. Renee A. Foose, Superintendent of Howard County Public Schools. “Our AP program is one of the best in the country due to the hard work and dedication of our teachers and students, and the high expectations of our families.”

Performance among specific student groups has also showed notable improvement. Among HCPSS Hispanic seniors graduating last year, 35 percent earned a score of 3 or higher on AP exams, compared to 24.8 percent in 2014. Scores for graduates eligible for free and reduced price meals also improved, from 15.1 percent in the Class of 2014 to 20.6 percent in 2015. The number and percent of graduates in both groups who took at least one AP exam also increased during that time period.

National research shows that AP course participants are more likely to succeed in college, regardless of their ultimate score on the AP exam. While course participation alone benefits students, scores of 3 or higher are accepted for course credit by many colleges and universities.

The school system has worked to increase the number of students who participate in at least one AP course during high school. HCPSS actively encourages students to participate in AP programs, recruits AP teachers with content expertise, and offers preparation sessions and exam fee waivers for many students. A vertical articulation program was launched last year to prepare middle school students with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in advanced level coursework.

Details on AP performance and participation for HCPSS and the state are available at mdreportcard.org.