The number of Washington high schoolers taking advance placement classes is growing. That's the word this morning from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.
According to The College Board's seventh annual AP Report to the Nation, more than a quarter of Washington's seniors took at least one advance placement class in the 2009/2010 school year. The number of students taking those classes is up by a thousand from 2008/2009.
The report also suggests more of the students taking AP courses are passing with 17.2 percent scoring a three or better on the exam.
Advance placement tests allow students the opportunity to obtain college credit in 36 different subjects before graduating from high school. The most popular courses in Washington are: English language, U.S. history, English literature and calculus.
OPSI reports the trends are also up for all subgroups as well including African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans and low-income students - though it is important to note the percentages are still disproportionate and far from equitable.
While African Americans make up 4.8-percent of the class of 2010, African Americans only accounted for 1.8-percent of the total students taking AP courses. Washington ranked 39th in the nation in the percentage of Hispanics taking the test. For those interested in specific equity measurements, the College Board's report includes those calculations.
Washington ranked 17th in the nation overall for the number of students passing the test.
