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Credit: Baltimore County Public Schools
BALTIMORE COUNTY - Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) saw a massive increase in the number of students taking and passing Advanced Placement classes in 2022.
According to the school district, BCPS students took 10,306 AP exams last school year, an increase of more than 2,300 tests from the 2020-2021 school year. Students earned a college-ready score on 64.5% of those exams, an increase of 3.1%.
These statistics show that BCPS students outperformed their peers across the country. According to The College Board, only 61% of AP exams taken by students across the nation scored a three or higher.
“Our students continue to excel on Advanced Placement exams and are demonstrating their readiness for college-level work,” Superintendent Darryl Williams said. “We celebrate these results and remain focused on expanding efforts to provide students with access to rigorous classes as well as the supports and resources they need to be well-prepared for success.”
AP courses are rigorous and aim to prepare students for college-level classes. At the end of an AP course, students can take an exam to determine whether or not they will receive college credit.
Most colleges and universities give college credit to students who pass an AP class and score a three or higher on the exam.
According to BCPS, AP enrollment, exam participation, and performance also improved among African American students. Nearly 43% of the AP exams taken by BCPS African American students earned scores of 3 or higher, a 4.8% increase from the 2020-2021 school year and 2.8% higher than the state average.
Students receiving Free and Reduced-price Meals (FARMS) also saw greater AP enrollment in 2022. These students saw their enrollment in AP classes increase by 59.8%.
