The educational report “The 6th Annual AP Report to the Nation” shows an increased number of public high-school students, including Black and Latinos, participating in the rigorous, college-level Advanced Placement (AP) courses this year compared with the past. But Black and American Indian academic success is lagging other groups’.
“Disparity still exists,” says Trevor Packer, vice president of the AP program at the College Board, a membership-based nonprofit that published the report. “We need to ensure that all students are provided with the kind of academic experiences that can prepare them for the rigors of AP and college.”
Nationwide, 15.9 percent of all public-school students from the class of 2009 scored a 3 or higher on an AP exam, versus 15.2 percent in 2008 and 12.7 in 2004. This critical score indicates a student’s learning level and his or her likelihood to succeed in college. In addition, AP students are much more likely to earn a bachelor’s degree in four years than their counterparts, reducing costs and giving them a jumpstart on their careers.
