CONTACT:            

Ayan Islam (202) 316-1841; [email protected]

Leslie Sepuka, The College Board (212) 713-8052;  [email protected]

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The College Board released today its 9^th Annual AP® Report to the Nation and found that more District of Columbia public and charter high school graduates than ever before are participating and succeeding  in college-level AP courses and exams. Over the last decade, there has been a fairly steady increase in AP participation and success in the District of Columbia where the number of public and charter high school graduates leaving high school having taken an AP Exam has increased by 159 percent. In addition, more graduates in the District’s class of 2012 scored a 3 or higher on at least one AP Exam than previously seen since 2002.   

“We are pleased to see the positive gains made in AP participation and success over the last ten years,” said DC State Superintendent of Education Hosanna Mahaley Jones. “Our education community has worked diligently to ensure that students are prepared for postsecondary learning and this is a wonderful indication of the work that’s being done in our schools.”

The District of Columbia’s public and charter high school class of 2012 completed 3,845 AP Exams during high school, including 758 in STEM disciplines. The 10 most popular AP Exams taken by District of Columbia’s public and charter high school graduates, in descending order of popularity, were:

Taking AP courses demonstrates to college admission officers that students have sought the most rigorous curriculum available to them, and most four-year colleges and universities in the United States grant credit, advanced placement or both on the basis of successful AP Exam scores. More than 3,300 colleges and universities in the United States received AP scores from students last year, including 13 colleges and universities in District of Columbia.

At its core, AP is a collaboration among college faculty and administrators, states, districts, schools and teachers working together to provide academically-ready students with the access to the rigor they deserve.

A summary of the results can be downloaded at www.osse.dc.gov and The 9th Annual AP Report to the Nation and the state supplement for District of Columbia are available at apreport.collegeboard.org.

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About OSSE

The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), formerly known as the State Education Office (SEO), is a high-performing, transparent agency that sets proactive policies, exercises vigilant oversight, and directs resources that guarantee residents educated in the District of Columbia are among the highest performers in the nation; fully prepared for successful postsecondary learning and employment in the creative economy. As the State Education Agency for DC, the OSSE sets statewide policies, provides resources and support, and exercises accountability for ALL public education in DC to ensure that all residents receive an excellent education.

For more information about OSSE, go to: www.osse.dc.gov; www.twitter.com/OSSEDC; www.facebook.com/OSSEDC

About the College Board

The College Board is a mission-driven not-for-profit organization that connects students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the College Board was created to expand access to higher education. Today, the membership association is made up of more than 6,000 of the world’s leading educational institutions and is dedicated to promoting excellence and equity in education. Each year, the College Board helps more than seven million students prepare for a successful transition to college through programs and services in college readiness and college success — including the SAT^® and the Advanced Placement Program^®. The organization also serves the education community through research and advocacy on behalf of students, educators and schools. For further information, visit www.collegeboard.org.