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Tuesday, August 26, 2008

FCPS Minority Students Take More AP Exams

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) students who indicated their ethnicity as being Asian, Black, or Hispanic are taking more Advanced Placement (AP) tests, a sign that is indicative of the expanding access to the AP curricula for all FCPS students, according to data just released by FCPS Superintendent Jack D. Dale.  The Asian student population experienced the largest increase with a 12 percent jump from 3,107 in 2007 to 3,477 in 2008; the number of Black students has risen 13 percent from 609 to 691; the number of Hispanic students increased 6 percent from 921 to 973; and the number of White students increased slightly from 7,861 in 2007 to 7,870 in 2008. (See table 3.)

“These results reflect the positive direction our School Board and staff have taken with the Student Achievement Goals to provide a relevant and rigorous educational experience for all students,” said Dale.  “The results continue to indicate and underscore the importance of providing and encouraging students to take advantage of these opportunities to prepare them for the 21st Century.”
As reported by the College Board, FCPS shows more than a 3 percent increase in the total number of AP exams taken by students in 2008 and an overall increase of 25 percent in the number of tests taken since 2005.  In 2008, 29,575 exams were administered, up from 28,597 in 2007. (See table 1.)  Along with the increase in the number of tests taken there was a slight increase in the percentage of exam scores of three or above—68 percent in 2008, up from 67 percent in 2007. (See table 1.)  From 2007-08, the percentage of scores at or above 3 improved for females and for both Black and White students. 

The number of ninth and tenth grade exam takers has risen by 12 percent from 2,920 in 2007 to 3,270 in 2008.  Four percent more eleventh graders took the exams from 4,874 in 2007 to 5,077 in 2008. The number of twelfth grade students taking the AP exams increased by 2 percent from 5,452 in 2007 to 5,559 in 2008. (See table 2.)  
 
Additional Highlights
From 2007 to 2008:

• The number of AP exams taken by Asian students has increased by 11 percent while the percentage achieving a 3 or higher on the exams has decreased from 66 percent in 2007 to 65 percent in 2008.
• The number of AP exams taken by Black students increased 15 percent while the percentage achieving a 3 or higher on the exams increased from 44 percent in 2007 to 50 percent in 2008.
• The number of AP exams taken by Hispanic students increased 7 percent while the percentage achieving a 3 or higher on the exams decreased from 61 percent to 60 percent in 2008.
• The number of AP exams taken by White students decreased slightly from 2007 to 2008 while the percentage achieving a 3 or higher on the exams increased from 70 percent in 2007 to 72 percent in 2008.
• The number of AP exams taken by female students increased by 2 percent.  The percentage of females achieving a 3 or higher on the exams increased from 66 percent in 2007 to 67 percent in 2008.
• The number of AP exams taken by male students increased by 5 percent.  The percentage of males achieving a 3 or higher on the exams decreased from 70 percent in 2007 to 69 percent in 2008.

Table 1 contains mean scores and number of tests taken by ethnicity and the percent and number at or above 3 for 2005 through 2008 as reported by the College Board.
Table 2 contains the number and percent of students tested by grade level for
2005 through 2008 as reported by the College Board. 
Table 3 contains the number of students tested by ethnicity for 2005 through 2008 as reported by the College Board. 
Table 4 contains mean scores, percent at or above 3, and number of tests taken by subject for 2005 through 2008 as reported by the College Board. 

Attachment:  Tables 1-4

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