{"id":29207,"date":"2020-02-07T11:32:56","date_gmt":"2020-02-07T16:32:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/msde\/?p=29207"},"modified":"2020-02-07T11:32:56","modified_gmt":"2020-02-07T16:32:56","slug":"another-high-mark-for-maryland-students-on-advanced-placement-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.maryland.gov\/msde\/another-high-mark-for-maryland-students-on-advanced-placement-success\/","title":{"rendered":"Another High Mark for Maryland Students on Advanced Placement Success"},"content":{"rendered":"

BALTIMORE \u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/strong>Maryland student success on the Advanced Placement (AP) remains steady, while high participation rates on the rigorous tests continue.<\/p>\n

According to a report released by the College Board, 31.5 percent of the Maryland Class of 2019 earned a score of 3 or higher on at least one AP exam while in high school.\u00a0This rate is well above the nationwide number of 23.9 percent and nearly identical to Maryland\u2019s Class of 2018. Maryland\u2019s rate also places it fifth in the nation, just after California, Florida, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.<\/p>\n

A score of 3 or better is the threshold at which many higher education institutions award college credit to high school students on an AP assessment.<\/p>\n

The percentage of Maryland graduates taking an AP test while in high school was strong at 46.9, with 26,421 members of the Class of 2019 in the State taking at least one exam.\u00a0Maryland\u2019s participation rate was well above the national rate of 38.9 percent and was also fifth in the nation.<\/p>\n

“Our administration is committed to ensuring that Maryland students have access to the high quality education they need to compete in today’s 21st century workforce, which is why we introduced legislation this year to expand access to AP exams,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “Congratulations to our students, educators, and administrators for continuing to lead the nation in Advanced Placement assessment achievement.”<\/p>\n

Dr. Karen Salmon, State Superintendent of Schools, said the AP program is one key pathway to preparing a brighter future for students after high school.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaryland\u2019s continued commitment to AP demonstrates our focus on preparing graduates for success in post-secondary education.\u00a0 The Advanced Placement courses provide important options aimed at challenging our students,\u201d said Dr. Salmon, \u201cand we believe our students will continue to rise to new levels of advanced achievement.\u201d<\/p>\n

Maryland in 2017 launched the Lead Higher Initiative, designed to close equity gaps for lower income students and students of color in AP and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses.\u00a0 The goal of this program is to increase the participation of under-represented, academically prepared students. Over the last three years, ten Maryland school systems with fifty-one schools have participated in this initiative.<\/p>\n

The College Board\u2019s new report of the college-level assessment program provides a variety of information about the Class of 2019. \u00a0 For example:<\/p>\n