More Ohio High-Schoolers Take AP Tests

ore Ohio high-schoolers take AP tests

Thursday, February 10, 2011  02:53 AM

BY CHARLIE BOSS

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

More of Ohio's high-school seniors are graduating with test scores worthy of college credit, thanks to their performance on Advanced Placement exams. But their success lags their peers across the country.

Last year, 14,323 Ohio seniors took at least one AP exam during high school and earned a 3 or higher - scores that typically translate to college credit. That group represents 11.8 percent of all Ohio seniors; the national average is 5.1 percentage points higher, according to the College Board's annual "AP Report to the Nation" released yesterday.

About 23,000 Ohioans in the Class of 2010 had taken at least one AP exam, 4percent more than the previous graduating class. About 2,200 low-income students took an exam last year, a 24percent jump from 2009.

Officials with the Ohio Department of Education said yesterday that the department is committed to getting even more Ohio students into the AP program.

   

"If we want Ohio students to succeed in a global marketplace, we must increase access to challenging and rigorous curricula, including AP classes," said Deborah S. Delisle, superintendent of public instruction. "That is why we included strengthening AP in our Race to the Top grant application."

State and local educators have been directing more students to Advanced Placement coursework to expose them to college-level material. Students are not required to take the exams, which cover a range of 30 subjects from art to science. But their results can help them earn college credit as well as gauge their level of readiness. A 3, for example, is seen as an equivalent to a C in college.

Several central Ohio schools have opened doors for all students to participate by eliminating prerequisite courses or teacher recommendations to take AP classes. Olentangy schools encourage every student to take at least one AP course.

"To get the exposure to the work is so valuable," said Mark Raiff, who oversees secondary education at Olentangy. "(Students) can see the type of work that is expected in college. By passing the test, the research says you are going to be so much more likely to be successful in college."

Last year, 58 percent of the district's 1,702 juniors and seniors signed up for an AP course. Of the 987 students who took an AP exam, about 71 percent scored a 3 or higher.

Similar to national trends, some minority students in Ohio continued to be underrepresented in the AP numbers.

For example, black students represented 13.5percent of Ohio's 2010 graduates but only 6.9 percent took Advanced Placement tests and 3.4 percent earned a 3 or better on at least one test.

The English literature and composition exam was the most popular choice last year among Ohio's seniors, with 8,156 tests administered. Other top popular exams include U.S. history (7,023), U.S. government and politics (7,019), introductory calculus (6,581) and English language and composition (4,923).

cboss@dispatch.com

Thursday, February 10, 2011  02:53 AMBY CHARLIE BOSS
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

More of Ohio's high-school seniors are graduating with test scores worthy of college credit, thanks to their performance on Advanced Placement exams. But their success lags their peers across the country.

Last year, 14,323 Ohio seniors took at least one AP exam during high school and earned a 3 or higher - scores that typically translate to college credit. That group represents 11.8 percent of all Ohio seniors; the national average is 5.1 percentage points higher, according to the College Board's annual "AP Report to the Nation" released yesterday.

About 23,000 Ohioans in the Class of 2010 had taken at least one AP exam, 4 percent more than the previous graduating class. About 2,200 low-income students took an exam last year, a 24percent jump from 2009.

Officials with the Ohio Department of Education said yesterday that the department is committed to getting even more Ohio students into the AP program.

"If we want Ohio students to succeed in a global marketplace, we must increase access to challenging and rigorous curricula, including AP classes," said Deborah S. Delisle, superintendent of public instruction. "That is why we included strengthening AP in our Race to the Top grant application."

State and local educators have been directing more students to Advanced Placement coursework to expose them to college-level material. Students are not required to take the exams, which cover a range of 30 subjects from art to science. But their results can help them earn college credit as well as gauge their level of readiness. A 3, for example, is seen as an equivalent to a C in college.

Several central Ohio schools have opened doors for all students to participate by eliminating prerequisite courses or teacher recommendations to take AP classes. Olentangy schools encourage every student to take at least one AP course.
"To get the exposure to the work is so valuable," said Mark Raiff, who oversees secondary education at Olentangy. "(Students) can see the type of work that is expected in college. By passing the test, the research says you are going to be so much more likely to be successful in college."

Last year, 58 percent of the district's 1,702 juniors and seniors signed up for an AP course. Of the 987 students who took an AP exam, about 71 percent scored a 3 or higher.

Similar to national trends, some minority students in Ohio continued to be underrepresented in the AP numbers.
For example, black students represented 13.5percent of Ohio's 2010 graduates but only 6.9 percent took Advanced Placement tests and 3.4 percent earned a 3 or better on at least one test.

The English literature and composition exam was the most popular choice last year among Ohio's seniors, with 8,156 tests administered. Other top popular exams include U.S. history (7,023), U.S. government and politics (7,019), introductory calculus (6,581) and English language and composition (4,923).

cboss@dispatch.com