Despite Top Ranking, State Sees AP Course Equity Gaps
Written by b87fm on 02/21/2024
BOSTON (SHNS) – State education officials stressed the ongoing need to boost equitable participation in AP exams Tuesday as they celebrated Massachusetts again ranking first in the country and notching the highest share of graduating public high school seniors scoring average or higher.
Massachusetts also saw some of the largest 10-year improvements in Hispanic/Latino and Black/African American students taking an AP exam during high school, according to new results released by the College Board.
The announcement comes as the House Ways and Means Committee weighs a proposal that would require state colleges to implement a consistent standard for accepting AP exam scores, with the goal of curbing persistent disparities in Black and Latino students taking advanced courses.
Massachusetts ranked first in the country for the percentage of high school graduates scoring a 3 or higher on the AP exam, according to new data released Tuesday by the College Board. The exams …
The data show 38.2 percent of Hispanic/Latino graduates took an AP exam, a 16.2 percentage point increase over a decade ago. Among Black/African American graduates, 32.2 percent took an AP exam, a 9.5 percentage point increase compared to 2013, DESE said.
