WASHINGTON — Many teens dread the Advanced Placement exams, but know they could save time and money by gaining college credit or even career training. Last year, student efforts paid off as the District, Maryland and Virginia made waves.
In achievement, Maryland grabbed the top spot in the nation for the ninth year in a row. But state students made history when it came to the examinations.
“For the first time, more than 30 percent of Maryland seniors earned a 3 or better. It’s terrific; Maryland leads the nation in success students are having. But not only that — more students are having success,” says John White, chief of staff at the state’s department of education.
AP exams are graded on a 1 to 5 scale.
Virginia again landed in the third spot for AP achievement nationwide. While the state tied with Florida, Charles Pyle, with the Virginia Department of Education, says the Commonwealth does not offer incentives like Florida does.
“I think it speaks to the fact that we have some high-performing school divisions in Virginia,” Pyle says.
Virginia continued to see an incremental increase in the percentage of students taking at least one AP test, Pyle says.
The College Board says D.C. boasts the largest percentage of students in the country to take AP exams in 2014. However, it fell below the national average for achievement.
Some of the districts that made the AP Honor Roll in Virginia are Prince William and Stafford counties and Alexandria, and the middle and high schools on the Quantico Marine base.
See a breakdown of how each state did here.
