LOUISIANA STUDENTS ACHIEVE RECORD NUMBER OF ADVANCED PLACEMENT CREDITS

Number of College Credit AP Scores Increases by 20 Percent in Last Year, 87 Percent since 2012

BATON ROUGE, La. – The Louisiana Department of Education today announced that Louisiana high school students earned nearly 1,300 more qualifying scores of 3, 4, or 5 on Advanced Placement (AP®) exams in 2015 than in 2014, increasing the total from 6,410 in 2014 to 7,703 in 2015, a 20 percent increase. Since 2012, the number of qualifying scores earned has increased 87 percent, from 4,112 in 2012. Credits earned by students who score a qualifying score of 3, 4, or 5 on the AP® exams are transferable to nearly any college in the nation and all colleges in Louisiana.

The one-year increase is due to both growth in overall participation in challenging AP® courses and an increase in the percentage of participating students achieving qualifying scores. While the number of course enrollments grew 19 percent, from 28,009 in 2014 to 33,231 in 2015, the percentage of test takers earning a 3 or higher also increased, from 30 percent in 2014 to 32 percent in 2015.

African-American students earned nearly 215 more qualifying scores on AP® exams in 2015 than in 2014, increasing from 707 in 2014 to 920 in 2015, a 30 percent increase. Since 2012, the number of exams with qualifying scores has increased 146 percent, from 374.

“Today’s results are further evidence that Louisiana’s students are as smart and as capable as any in America,” said State Superintendent John White. “The momentum in our high schools is undeniable. More students are taking challenging courses. More students are passing challenging tests. More students are going to college. This means life opportunity for thousands of young people and a more prosperous future for our great state.”

In the fall, the College Board will release results from three of its programs – PSAT/NMSQT®, SAT®, and AP® – in a combined manner via the 2015 College Board Program Results Report. The national and state-level results shared in this report will demonstrate the progress Louisiana students are making during high school.

Louisiana has historically ranked lowest in the nation in the number of students taking AP® courses and passing tests. Recognizing this, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) and local school systems began implementing changes to high school policies in 2012 that have resulted in significant increases in Advanced Placement (AP®) credits, college-going scores on the ACT, and the number of freshmen entering college.

Studies have shown expanding access to AP® courses increases the likelihood of college completion, even for students not achieving a 3 or higher on tests. The research reveals students who complete AP® coursework are:

• Better prepared for college-level work;
• More likely to continue their education beyond their freshman year in college;
• More likely to graduate within four to five years;
• Stand-outs in the college admissions process; and,
• More competitive in qualifying for scholarships.

To read these studies, please click here and here.

AP® Summary Chart:

In May 2015, Louisiana public high school students took a total of 7,703 exams that resulted in scores of 3, 4, or 5. Based on students’ opportunity to earn at least 3 college credits for each AP® Exam score of 3 or higher, this represents an estimated 23,109 college credits. Based on the College Board report, Trends in College Pricing, at an average rate of $243.80 per credit hour, the total potential cost savings for the state’s students and families was $5,633,974.

To provide increased opportunities for high school students, Louisiana has implemented a multi-faceted, comprehensive strategy to expand student access to AP® courses through:

• Linking AP® results to school accountability by recognizing a passing AP® score (3 to 5) as the highest level of achievement earned by a cohort graduate, earning the maximum 150 points in the graduation index.
• Paying for test fees for all students taking AP® exams who meet the criteria for low-income students and for students taking exams new to their school, because every child should have the opportunity to succeed.
• Providing increased access to AP® courses through the Course Choice MFP-funded Supplemental Course Allocation.
• Providing funding for teachers and administrators taking part in summer AP® training, with 325 educators across the state participating this year.
• Creating incentives for students to take more rigorous AP® courses by giving courses approved by the state additional weight in the calculation of the GPA qualifying students for TOPS Opportunity college scholarships.

The Department enhanced these strategies, disseminating letters to the parents or guardians of all 11th grade students demonstrating a high likelihood of AP® success based on results from the 2015 ACT PLAN® Assessment taken during their sophomore year.

For district- and school-level AP® results, please click here.
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