The 6th Advanced Placement (AP) Annual Report released today, shows that Florida is tied for fifth in the nation in the percentage of 2009 graduating seniors who passed (scored a 3 or higher) an AP exam in high school. A release from Governor Charlie Crist’s office says that the state’s five-spot jump from last year’s ranking includes a 3.1 percent increase in the passing rate, nearly double the increase of the next ranked state. Florida also moved to the top of the nation in the percent of 2009 graduating seniors who took an AP examine in high school.
In addition to Florida’s overall AP progress, there were improvements in minority participation and performance. African-American and Hispanic 2009 graduating senior saw increases in both the percentage taking and the percentage passing AP exams. Florida was one of 16 states eliminating the AP achievement gap for Hispanic or Latino 2009 graduating seniors.
Despite these improvements however, the report shows that while Blacks and African-Americans make up 19.7 percent of the overall student population, they comprise 12.9 percent of the AP student population, with a mere 6.3 percent having passed an AP exam in 2009. For Hispanics, the overall student population was 22.2 percent, with 24.8 percent comprising the AP student population; 27.6 percent of the 2009 graduating seniors passed at least one AP exam.
The report also highlights seven Florida public schools that lead the nation in assisting a significant number of African American and/or Latino students in succeeding in particular subjects. These are:
Barbara Goleman Senior High School – Miami
Coral Reef Senior High School – Miami
Cypress Bay High School – Weston
Design and Architecture Senior High – Miami
Miami Coral Park Senior High School – Miami
Miami Killian Senior High School – Miami
Stanton College Preparatory School – Jacksonville
Other highlights of the report are:
• 40.2 percent of the graduating class of 2009 in Florida took at least one AP Exam during high school. This compares to 26.5 percent for the nation.
• 29.2 percent of the graduating class of 2009 in Florida took at least one social science AP Exam — more than in any other subject area.
• 21.3 percent of the graduating class of 2009 in Florida earned a 3 or higher on one or more AP Exams during high school. This compares to 15.9 percent for the nation.
• 12.7 percent of the graduating class of 2009 in Florida earned a 3 or higher on at least one social science AP Exam — more than in any other subject area.
