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Honors and AP Enrollment Continues to Grow

October 26, 2006
Nearly 70 Percent of High School Students Enrolled in Honors and AP; Half of African American and Hispanic High School Students Are Participating

In the 2005-2006 school year, 69.7 percent of high school students in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) enrolled in Honors or Advanced Placement (AP) courses, an increase from 58 percent in 2000-2001.

Overall, more than 30,400 students were enrolled in these rigorous courses at the school system’s 24 high schools—the largest enrollment ever.

For the first time, half of African American students (50.7 percent) and nearly half (49.2 percent) of Hispanic students were enrolled in at least one Honors or AP course. The greatest increases from the previous year were seen among African American and Hispanic students (nearly 4 percentage points). Asian American students, students receiving special education services, and those in the Free and Reduced-price Meals System (FARMS) showed increases of about 2 percentage points. Enrollment by White students increased by nearly 3 percentage points. Participation increases occurred in all groups of students except for those with limited English proficiency (LEP).

Enrollment in AP courses alone has been on the rise as well, from 31.9 percent six years ago to 43.5 percent in 2005-2006. Participation increases over the previous year occurred in all student groups except for those with limited English proficiency. There was an overall one-year gain of nearly 3 percentage points.

A major MCPS goal is to prepare and encourage more students to take the most challenging courses by communicating high expectations for all students and removing barriers to the selection of students for enrollment in Honors and AP courses. During 2005-2006, enrollment targets were set that reflect expectations for both the percentage of each student group enrolled in at least one Honors or AP course and the percentage of schools meeting the expected rate of enrollment.

This year, the expected systemwide target of 68.4 percent for overall student enrollment in Honors and AP was surpassed by 1.3 percentage points. The target enrollment rate for 2010 is 75 percent of all students, with targets also set for individual student groups.

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