Number of Texas Students Taking Advanced Placement Grows

Commissioner of Education Michael Williams announced Friday, April 17, 2015, that the number of Texas graduates taking at least one Advanced Placement Program^® (AP^®) Exam during high school continued to grow, according to the Class of 2014 figures from the College Board.

 Number/Percentage of Graduates Who Took an AP Exam During High School

YEAR	TEXAS		NATION
2014	107,586	39.1%	35.7%
2013	101,707	36.0%	33.2%
2009	77,063	29.2%	26.3%
2004	53,542	21.9%	19.8%

The College Board’s AP cohort data for the Class of 2014 also showed that Texas is the only state that achieved equitable participation for low-income students. Equitable participation is defined as the percentage of K-12 students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch (51.1 percent) in the state equaling the number of AP exam takers (51.0 percent). And while no state achieved equitable success (percentage of AP exam takers scoring a three or higher during high school), Texas students came the closest.

“As our state’s demographics have changed, our high expectations for every student in our public schools have not,” said Commissioner Williams. “The growing number of students tackling AP courses in all parts of our state is evidence to a commitment to that commitment.”

Just over twenty percent of Texas students (20.3 percent) in the Class of 2014 scored 3 or higher on an AP exam during high school, which was slightly below the national average (21.6 percent). The five most popular AP exams for the Texas Class of 2014 were English Language and Composition; United States History; World History; English Literature and Composition; and United State Government and Politics.

Research shows that students who succeed in rigorous course work, such as that offered by AP, are developing college-level knowledge and skills while still in high school. These students are more likely than their peers to earn college degrees on time, which gives them an opportunity to save significant amounts of money.

View Press Release Here: Number of Texas students taking advanced placement grows (4-17-2015)