A higher percentage of students last year completed at least Algebra 1 or a higher-level mathematics course in middle school and more students enrolled in at least one Honors or Advanced Placement (AP) course in high school, as efforts continue to increase the academic rigor in the Montgomery County Public Schools.

The findings are contained in a new report on “Key Areas of Progress in Secondary Schools” from the Office of Shared Accountability. The report, which includes individual school data, is available on the web at the link below.

Completing Algebra as Early as Grade 6

The completion of Algebra 1 or a higher-level math course in middle school begins as early as sixth grade. Last year, 49 students in Grade 6 met this mark. While this number represents only half of 1 percent of sixth grade enrollment, the number of sixth grade students completing such courses has increased steadily, from one student in 1998-99, to 10 students in 1999-2000, to 36 students in 2000-01, and 49 students last year.

In Grade 7, the percentage of students successfully completing Algebra 1 or a higher-level mathematics course has steadily increased over the past three years, from 3.5 percent in 1998-99 to 11 percent in 2001-02. Last year, the percentage of Hispanic students (3.0) achieving this level was nearly double the previous year, and African American and white students saw a 50 percent increase to 3.1 percent and 15.4 percent, respectively.

Almost half of the eighth grade students (48.8 percent) completed Algebra 1 or a higher-level math course, the highest percentage since the Grade 8 benchmark of 32.8 percent was established in 1995-96. This increase was 3.6 percentage points above the previous year's total. The highest percentage also was achieved among each racial and ethnic group: African American students (25.7 percent, up nearly 2 percent over the previous year), Asian American students (69, up more than 5 percent), Hispanic students (21 percent, up 2 percent) and white students (61.7 percent, up more than 4.5 percent).

In Grade 9, nearly three-fourths of all students (74.9 percent) successfully completed Algebra 1 or a higher-level mathematics course, slightly above the previous year's rate. The percentage of African American students completing Algebra 1 or higher rose 3.1 percentage points over the previous year, and the Hispanic completion rate rose 1.9 percent.

Nearly Two-Thirds Enrolled in Honors and AP Courses

The percentage of high school students enrolled in at least one Honors or AP course last year also hit an all-time high since the benchmark was established in 1990-91. The 64 percent participation rate was an increase of nearly 3 percentage points above the 2000-2001 school year.

The percentage of African American students enrolled in at least one Honors or AP course increased by 4.5 points, to 43.5 percent, compared to the previous year. The enrollment rate among Asian American students increased by 3.1 points, to 77.6 percent. Hispanic students increased by 2.4 points, to 38.6 percent. White students increased by 3.1 points, to 75 percent.

The results are particularly impressive for African American and Hispanic students when data from the 1998-99 and 2001-02 school years are compared. During that time, the percentage of African American students enrolled in at least one Honors or AP course increased more than 13 percent, and the Hispanic student enrollment rate was up nearly 8 percent.