More Georgia students taking AP classes and passing exams
Here is some good news about Georgia and how well our high school student are doing on the AP exams and how many are now taking them. This is from DOE:
Georgia ranks 13th in the nation in the percentage of seniors scoring a 3 or higher on Advanced Placement exams, according to The College Board’s AP Report to the Nation released today. This report measures progress of the class of 2011.
“More Georgia students than ever before are taking AP courses and passing the exam,” said State School Superintendent John Barge. “Success on AP exams means that students are prepared for college and careers, which is our ultimate goal.”
Governor Nathan Deal added, “Our state’s excellent performance on AP exams demonstrates our success in cultivating excellence. With hard work and perseverance, young Georgians have the tools to achieve their dreams. Students who earn passing grades on Advanced Placement tests get a jump start on college and, in the long run, they help the state. These students represent the ‘best and brightest’ and are the future economic engines of Georgia. They also save our colleges and universities money by earning class credits.”
Advanced Placement classes and exams are administered by the College Board, which also administers the SAT. AP classes offer rigorous college-level learning options to students in high school. Students who receive a 3, 4 or 5 on AP exams may receive college credit.
The AP Report to the Nation looks at data for 2011 high school seniors. Among Georgia’s public high school seniors in 2011:
• There has been a steady increase in the number of Georgia’s public school students benefitting from the AP experience:
- 19.8 percent (16,476) of students from Georgia’s public high school class of 2011 scored 3 or higher on at least one AP exam during high school (ranking Georgia 13th in the nation), compared to 18.1 percent for the nation.
- 38.2 percent (31,764) of students from Georgia’s public high school class of 2011 took at least one AP exam during high school, compared to 26.0 percent (19,492) from the class of 2006 and 19.7 percent (12,332) from the class of 2001.
- Georgia is 12th in the nation when comparing the ten-year increase of seniors scoring a 3 or higher on at least one AP exam (9% growth compared to 7.3% for the nation).
- The number of African American graduates who took at least one AP exam during high school nearly doubled since the class of 2006, from 3,940 to 7,878. The number of these students who scored 3 or higher on at least one AP exam more than doubled, from 1,004 to 2,076.
- 12.6 percent (2,076) of African American students from Georgia’s public high school class of 2011 scored 3 or higher on at least one AP exam during high school (ranking Georgia 2nd in the nation), compared to 4.1 percent for the nation.
• More of Georgia’s traditionally underserved public high school graduates are participating and succeeding in AP.
- The number of low-income graduates who took at least one AP exam during high school nearly quadrupled, from 1,905 in the class of 2006 to 7,260 in the class of 2011. The number of these students who scored 3 or higher on at least one AP exam increased five times from 509 to 2,546.
- The number of Hispanic/Latino graduates who took at least one AP exam during high school nearly tripled since the class of 2006, from 778 to 2,247 in the class of 2011. The number of these students who scored 3 or higher on at least one AP exam more than doubled during that time, from 492 to 1,245.
- 7.1 percent of Georgia’s graduating class of 2011 was Hispanic/Latino, and 7.6 percent of successful AP exam takers from the 2011 graduating class were Hispanic/Latino. Georgia has achieved 100 percent AP equity and excellence for the Hispanic/Latino students.
• The 10 most popular AP exams taken by Georgia public high school graduates during high school, in descending order of popularity, were U.S. History, English Language and Composition, English Literature and Composition, World History, Psychology, U.S. Government and Politics, Calculus AB, Statistics, Biology and Macroeconomics.
When it comes to public school students enrolling in AP courses and taking the exams, Georgia is also a national leader. Only five other states in the country had a greater percentage of AP exam takers last year. The percentage of Georgia seniors who took an AP exam was 38.2%, compared to 30.2% for the nation.
Georgia has undertaken many successful efforts to increase participation in AP programs and success on AP exams. Among the initiatives:
From 2003-2010, the Georgia Legislature approved funds to pay for students to take at least one AP exam per year. For those seven years, economically disadvantaged students had all of their AP exams paid for each year. Budget cuts reduced that support to only one AP exam for economically-disadvantaged students in May 2011 and that support remains in place for the May 2012 exams.
The Georgia Department of Education has organized the distribution of AP Teacher Training Grants. Since 2006, GaDOE has funded approximately $1,302,693.00 in grant awards to train 1,837 new AP teachers. These awards have allowed 899 new AP courses to be offered in public high schools throughout the state. It is anticipated that in 2012 an additional 100 AP teachers will be trained.
The GaDOE has sponsored regional workshops for teachers of AP for the past four years. These workshops are led by master teachers of AP in Georgia high schools. To date, over 2,426 AP teachers have participated in these course-specific workshops.
The Georgia Virtual Schools (GAVS) continues to add AP classes, increasing access to students throughout the state, including those that might not otherwise be able to take an AP class. More than 1,300 students took an AP course with GAVS for the 2011-12 school year.
–From Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
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65 comments Add your comment
Ole Guy
February 8th, 2012
5:25 pm
This is all very wonderful news…IN FACT, IT’S GREAT NEWS! However…just as with my arguement on the worthwiledness of pre-k…how does this all stack up where it counts…you know, like REALITY. Are high school graduates, both those “benefiting” from pre-k as well as “AP Aces”, making anything of themselves insofar as success in college, success in the crazy world of MEANINGFUL work, etc.
Look folks, I’m all for celebrating the “baby step” success in life: good scholastic performances, both in AP as well as the standard work loads of high school life as well as other academic acolades. Those who make it past the front doors of America’s colleges and universities, as well as career preparatory institutions are to be heartily congratulated. But let’s not start “throwing the baby into the air” just quite yet. In other words, let’s not fall into the (what should be the) embarrasing trap of celebrating mediocrity, as seems to have been the sad case far far too many times.
Maureen, I have continuously suggested to you that, as one who follows the effectiveness of education, you might start reporting on the “proof of the pudding”, as it were. Quite frankly, I don’t give a hoot in hell on what goes on this side of that diploma UNTIL I see the end result: rates of college graduation…ON-TIME COLLEGE GRADUATION, perhaps a few success stories; “local boy/girl does good”-type stories, ie “Johnny College, graduate of Back Home High, just assumed some responsible post with Ajax Corp”. Perhaps an interview with “Johnny”, recounting the trials and tribulations both through hs and college and, perhaps, a word or two on just what ittakes to succeed…the “if I can do it, so can you” type response.
Thus far, Maureen, I have not been all that impressed with the “whats going on in education land” type stuff I see here. I AM, indeed, quite interested/concerned in educational matters, however, without some reporting on the “connectivity” of education and the real world, these articles, quite frankly, border on entertainment AT BEST; a forum for mass demonstration of gross ignorance at large at worse.
I am still awaiting some sort of tracking (or, at least a plan to initiate such tracking) on pre-k “graduates” and their individual outcomes at the other end of the educational pipeline: success in both high school and college; compared to the same outcomes for their peers who may not have “benefited” from pre-k.
Thus far, Maureen, all the “goody goody” stuff you’ve reported is fine, but without the end result, where it really counts, it’s all simply smoke-filled coffee house crap; yet another celebration of mediocrity.
Ron F.
February 8th, 2012
5:41 pm
Milton Man: congrats on the Ivy League. I still see kids coming out of our supposedly substandard schools much closer to Atlanta that get accepted to big universities too. No wealth envy here. Believe me, I wouldn’t live up there if you paid me. My kids get as good an education in our poor little rural district and get a lot more one-on-one from their teachers. My oldest is planning on dual enrollment next year and has wonderful AP classes with quality teachers out here in the sticks. Unlike the stereotypes suggest, the poor communities have a lot of families who want better for their kids too. I took a big paycut to be where I am and haven’t regretted leaving the metro area once.
Sandy Springs Parent
February 8th, 2012
5:49 pm
Everyone seems to be missing the fact that the law that changed the Hope Scholarship to the Zell Miller Scholar programs, also starting with the graduating class of 2015 added Section 105.1 Academic Rigor Requirements to be a Hope Scholar. Folks that that means our current Freshman, and guess what no one is telling most of them anything about it.
Below are the academic rigor classes:
1.) Advanced Math such as Advanced Algebra and Trig, Math III or and Equivalent or higher course taken at an eligible high school or taken for degree level credit at an eligible post secondary institutions; ( by the way most of the kids in Georgia Public schools are only taking the on level Math III, even kids that are taking AP and IB in everything else are only taking on level, because of this screwed up Kathy Cox mess, now for the private school kids who are on the standard Advanced Algebra and Trig., no problem. Note how that is written first, because that is what the lawmakers children take.)
2.) Advanced science, such as Chemistry, Physics, Biology II or an equivalent or higher course taken at an eligible high school or taken for degree level credit at an eligible post secondary institution; ( I guess this is to avoid all the Earth Science courses that are pushed for easy A’s at some North Fulton Schools).
3.) AP Courses in core Subjects
4.) IB Courses in Core Subjects
5.) Advanced Foriegn Language courses taken at an eligible high school or taken for degree level credit at an eligible post secondary institution. ( Is this going to be Foriegn Language Level 3 and above, those are considered honors level, or Foriegn Language Level 4, which is considered AP level).
It looks like the AP and IB test companies did some good lobbying. Alot of folks will get a big surprise. My daughter will have her 4 AP by the end of Jr. Year. But will have 5 if you consider Foriegn Language 3rd year.
She still has another year that she could take another 8.
Wait and see
February 8th, 2012
7:56 pm
@Sandy Springs parent, thanks for sharing. North Atlanta’s IB program meets all those criteria. Good to know.
Bella237
February 8th, 2012
9:47 pm
@Sandy Spring Parent – the last presentation I went to by the HOPE people did not give any answer on what constitutes an “advanced foreign language” When asked, they implied it was going to be level 2 and above (this was in August of 2011). If you email them and ask for clarification on what is considered a rigorous class. ALL they will give you is the info on the website (which you put in your post). So, there isn’t even a really good answer on that.
AJinCobb
February 8th, 2012
10:00 pm
@Sandy Springs Parent, you wrote:
“Advanced Math such as Advanced Algebra and Trig, Math III or and Equivalent or higher course taken at an eligible high school or taken for degree level credit at an eligible post secondary institutions; ( by the way most of the kids in Georgia Public schools are only taking the on level Math III, even kids that are taking AP and IB in everything else are only taking on level, because of this screwed up Kathy Cox mess, now for the private school kids who are on the standard Advanced Algebra and Trig., no problem.”
How do you explain, then, that the Georgia Tech Distance Calculus program http://admission.gatech.edu/apply/programs-high-schoolers/distance-calculus-program was oversubscribed for 2011-2012, having more qualified applicants than ever before, because the public high school class of 2012, the first year of victims of the “screwed up Kathy Cox mess” had more advanced calculus students than the previous classes on the previous curriculum?
Distance Calculus students take college sophomore level calculus in their senior year of high school, having completed AP Calculus in junior year of high school.
Wait and see
February 9th, 2012
9:49 am
@ajincobb, right you are! My sixth graders at Sutton tested into the highest math and are starting 7th grade math this semester. Next year, while in 7th grade, we have been told they will complete 8th grade math. There are many good public schools in Georgia for the academically gifted.
To Ole Guy from Good Ma
February 9th, 2012
10:55 am
I see your point and I would like the same.
For example, Hope’s mission is to keep good college graduates in Georgia so they can work here and make a difference here in GA. GA needs to reap the benefits of the effort put into the Hope program, for example.
So what would be an excellent ongoing investigation for the AJC to do is to find out whre exactly are all the GA high school graduates going to college? Did they graduate? How much debt they get out of school with and how much do they contribute to GA AFTER they get out of college.
It would be documentary-worthy and I think everyone could appreciate the information.
very very good points.
GM
Choice Theory
February 9th, 2012
11:43 am
Taking AP courses is not just about getting college credit. It is also to gain the analytical and argumentative skills necessary for success in college level classes. Colleges really want to see that students take an AP class because colleges know the level of rigor involved. If they get credit through the exam, it is an added bonus. They gain more through taking the class over the long run. Plus, they can always test out of classes in which they don’t earn credit once they get to college.
Ole Guy
February 9th, 2012
5:13 pm
Ma, it’s all about good ole fashioned follow-up. The entire HOPE/Pre-k fiasco is based on the sad fact that, for too many years, this monies was simply sprinkled upon the masses with absolutely no thought of effectiveness and roi.
Anonmom
February 9th, 2012
10:22 pm
For those of you with kids who haven’t hit high school yet, there are some things you should know about AP. Not all HSs treat AP the same way. Some HSs have “gate keepers” and you can’t access AP classes — or certain AP classes without recommendations or certain scores on certain tests — one friend’s sons wasn’t able to take AP European History at his private school because his PSAT score in 9th grade was too low; another friend pulled her daughter from a different private school to public school because she was at the “top” of the “high achievers” pool and wasn’t being allowed to access AP classes. That same public school squeezes as many kids as possible into their AP classes and doesn’t necessarily follow the national curriculum (yes, there’s a national curriculum for each AP) so you can land in a class with the state max plus 2 or 3 so my son was in APUS History with 38 kids as an 11th grader. My middle son in private school has AP French with 5 classmates…. his AP Euro class last year was with 15 kids total. At his school, the classes are by “recommendation” and if the kid wants to try the AP, they are welcome to. My older son’s private school, once we left our 38 seated public schooled AP classes had APs by recommendation…they had 12-15 per class, he could not stay in APUSH because he was too far behind in the curriculum at the half way point; he was recommended for Calculus but every time he went for help, his teacher kept wanting him to drop to Honors — he wanted to stay so we got him a tutor. He got a 3 on on the exam and a B+ in the class (he’s in an engineering program so this was important to him) — he also took AP Physics. We missed a “gap” with AP Chemistry … he left for college completly unprepared for intro chem as an engineering major it was probably his toughest class since he arrived at college — if I could undo things, I’d have him take APChem in High School.
Anonmom
February 9th, 2012
10:28 pm
To finish: some high schools let kids leave their AP class as late as the day before the final 1st semester and drop to the honors level class if it is not going well; some high schools make you sign in blood that you are committing to AP a year before the class begins and even if you are going to earn a 40 you will see it through and sit for the exam. Some schools are in-between. Until I had a child hit his 2nd or 3rd AP class, most of this informaiton and these details, never occured to me –fortunately, my kids weren’t in “fail” range but they had friends who were. It’s very interesting to see just how differently the classes are treated. The percentange of kids who score 1s is also eye opening at many schools. (A 1 is not very good and oftentimes these are classes where many kids also earned As so there’s a “disconnect”).
Grob Hahn
February 10th, 2012
2:40 pm
It’s like reading a story about Obama-math. All the “good” news is presented, but hardly any of the relevant parts. While I’m glad to hear that some minority students are improving, how does that compare to the dropout rates of their peers? This whole thing reads like back patting the good news and ignoring the reality. Are we really better off in any way here?
Grobbbbbbbbbb
Monica F
February 11th, 2012
12:33 pm
Can AP Latin be added to Georgia Virtual Schools? My current 8th grader wants to take AP Latin in a few years and it’s not available. Again, please consider adding AP Latin.
amoore12
February 11th, 2012
11:58 pm
One does not pay for AP courses, one pays for the test to earn college credit. The classes are free and they are much more rigorous than dual enrollment classes. Taking the test is optional, but the knowledge learned from these classes is what prepares these kids for college. Also, even with the Zell Miller Scholarship, UGA still costs about $11,000.00, which is not free!