Report: Record number of R.I. students take 2017 AP exams

A RECORD NUMBER of Rhode Island students took the Advanced Placement test administered by College Board in 2017. / COURTESY COLLEGE BOARD
A RECORD NUMBER of Rhode Island students took the Advanced Placement test administered by College Board in 2017. / COURTESY COLLEGE BOARD

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island’s public high school graduating Class of 2017 saw a record number of students take one or more College Board Advanced Placement exams, the R.I. Department of Education announced Wednesday.

The numbers come from a College Board yearly report, the company that administers the AP exams, the same company that administers the SAT exam.

The 5,542 Rhode Island students that participated in the exams reflected a 10 percent increase year over year in participation from 2016. The class also recorded a 5 percent increase in the number of students receiving qualifying scores, a score of 3 or higher with scores ranging from 1-5. College Board noted that participating students took a combined 9,344 AP tests in 2017. Over half of the tests taken in Rhode Island in 2017 received qualifying scores.

The Class of 2017 also recorded a 20 percent year-over-year increase in the participation of Hispanic and Latino students taking one or more AP exams this year, with a 12 percent increase of qualifying scores year over year.

- Advertisement -

“Now more than ever, you need a postsecondary degree to succeed,” Gov. Gina M. Raimondo said in prepared remarks. “It’s not enough just to break down the college affordability barrier like we did with the Rhode Island Promise Scholarship — we have to make sure students are ready to excel after high school. AP courses give students a taste of college-level coursework, while saving their families money on credits. I’m thrilled that more students than ever are taking advantage of these courses, getting ready for college and investing in their futures.”

Chris Bergenheim is the PBN web editor.

No posts to display