The College Board has released data that reveals that the state of Maryland ranks second best in the nation on Advanced Placement Exams.
According to a report by the group that manages the nation’s Advanced Placement (AP) program, 2017 high school graduates in Maryland were the second-most successful of all graduating seniors in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The College Board’s data report showed that 31.2 percent of Maryland Public High School graduates last year had a score of three or higher on an AP exam during high school. Nationally, the number of high school graduates who have taken AP exams as well as the number of students who scored three or higher has increased by 70 percent. Despite grade fraud allegations in parts of Maryland and elsewhere, the report is indicative of an improving educational system.
Massachusetts had the highest percentage of graduates who scored well on AP exams, nine-tenths of a percent higher than second-place Maryland, at 32.1 percent. Virginia also ranked highly, at 28.5 percent, which was enough to earn the No. 6 ranking nationwide. The District of Columbia, on the other hand, came in at No. 32, with a percentage of 16.8, which is six percentage points below the national average.
Rounding out the top 10 states were Connecticut, Florida, California, New Jersey, New York, Colorado, and Illinois. The number of schools that offer AP classes also is at an all-time high, as currently 22,169 schools in the country are participating in the program.
Both participation and success on Advanced Placement exams nationwide has nearly doubled in the last 10 years. To view the report and The College Board’s Findings, click here.
