Participation and Performance Levels in Advanced Placement Exams by MCPS Students Set New Records

Increases Are Seen in All Student Demographic Groups

The Class of 2006 broke Advanced Placement (AP) participation and performance records established by the Class of 2005 and capped a five-year trend of consistently higher performance for graduates from all student groups, a new Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) analysis shows. Fifty-six percent (5,282 students) took at least one AP exam and 45 percent (4,234 students) earned at least one AP score of 3 or higher.

“This report reflects the hard work of students who are supported by highly professional teachers, principals, and staff who believe strongly in the benefits of a rigorous academic program,” said Superintendent Jerry D. Weast. “The data are clear—more MCPS graduates than ever before are leaving high school prepared for college-level coursework.”

The historic high levels of achievement for the Class of 2006 stretch across all student demographic groups and are persuasive evidence that the Board of Education’s efforts to provide a rigorous high school experience for all are working. Over the last five years, MCPS has increased the AP exam participation rate by 43 percent while maintaining a mean score of 3.1 for all exam takers. This is a noteworthy accomplishment because national trends show that as participation increases, performance tends to decrease. Significantly, more than half of exam takers in every student group earned a high enough score to receive college credit.

The Class of 2006 has the highest percentage and number of students to ever earn a 3, 4, or 5. In fact, nearly one out of five graduates received at least one score of 5, the highest score possible. In addition, 46 percent of exam takers (2,419) met or exceeded the requirements for an AP Scholar award, which means they scored a 3 or higher on three or more exams.

The analysis of these record-setting numbers demonstrates the effectiveness of MCPS efforts to open up Honors and AP courses to all students. Challenges remain in addressing differences in AP exam participation and performance among the various student demographic groups. While performance and participation differences remain between White and Asian American students and their African American and Hispanic peers, African American and Hispanic students in the Class of 2005 outperformed the national average for all students. National averages for the Class of 2006 are not yet available.