State high schools among best in AP course exams

LYNN – Massachusetts high school students put forth an impressive showing on the College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) exams in 2007, according to the organization’s fourth annual “Report to the Nation,” released Wednesday.The AP program allows qualified students the opportunity to take a course with college-level content while they are still in high school, and if a student scores high enough on the exam at the end of the school year, they may be eligible to receive college credits for their efforts.In Massachusetts, 17,060 public high school students took the test in the offered subjects in 2007, up nearly 1,000 participants from the previous year.The state’s scholars put together a good showing on the test, with 20. 3 percent achieving a grade of 3 or higher, which is the mark identified as suitable for college-level learning. The 12,208 students to achieve that mark is a giant increase in proficiency since 2006, when only 11,536 students achieved a 3 grade.Massachusetts’ results were well above the national average of 15.2 percent, and a larger percentage than any other state. Additionally, the number of students who took classes in math and science is also higher than the national percentage, with 10.5 percent of students taking an exam in science and 11.9 percent taking an exam in math, compared to 8.1 percent and 9.4 percent nationwide in those subjects.Although the College Board did not provide statistics, the report also noted that Massachusetts was among the nation’s leaders in minority and underprivileged students’ participation on the tests.”Massachusetts educators, administrators and policymakers have made progress in creating access to AP courses for undeserved students,” said Gaston Caperton, College Board president. “But there is still work to be done in preparing underrepresented students to succeed in these challenging courses that open the door to college and opportunity.”In Lynn, all three high schools offer Advanced Placement courses to qualified students, and traditionally those test-takers have succeeded when given the opportunity.In 2007 at Classical High School alone, 14 students achieved AP Scholar status, scoring a 3 or above on the test.”Competing in the world economy requires students to achieve at ever-higher levels, particularly in math and science,” said Dana Mohler-Faria, Bridgewater State College President and Special Education Advisor to Gov. Deval Patrick. “I congratulate students and teachers for their hard work and commitment that went into these good results. Equally important, I encourage students, teachers and communities to consistently increase expectations and the rigor of coursework in all of our schools.”