BALTIMORE — Maryland students ranked 4th in the country for Advanced Placement (AP) test passage rate. This set another new record in 2018, while participation on the rigorous tests remains high.
The percentage of Maryland seniors who earned a score of 3 or higher on one or more AP exams reached 31.6 percent in 2018.
That placed them fourth in the nation, just after Massachusetts, Connecticut and Florida.
A score of 3 or better is the threshold at which many higher education institutions award college credit to high school students on an AP assessment.
Nearly half of Maryland high school graduates took an AP test while in high school and a record 27,387 graduating seniors in the State took the exam in 2018.
Dr. Karen Salmon, State Superintendent of Schools, said in a statement they are always looking for ways to improve access to AP classes.
In 2017, Maryland became one of the first states to launch the Lead Higher Initiative, designed to close equity gaps for lower income students and students of color in AP and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses.
While the program did not have a significant impact on last year’s senior class, its effect should become apparent over time. Illinois is the other state to sign on to the Lead Higher Initiative.
“Maryland schools continue their focus on preparing graduates for careers or additional education, and the Advanced Placement courses provide students with important challenges,” Dr. Salmon said.
“We continue to look for opportunities to improve access to AP. We believe our students will continue to rise above the bars that we set.”
