WCPSS Students Take More Advanced Placement Exams
October 17, 2006 - For the second year in a row, the number of Advanced Placement exams taken by Wake County Public School System students increased by more than 800 over the previous year and the number of WCPSS students taking the exams to receive college credit increased by more than 400.
Number of students
|
| 2005-06 | 3,621 |
| 1998-99 | 1,798 |
Total number of AP exams taken
| 2005-06 | 7,176 |
| 1998-99 | 3,471 |
More students take challenging courses
The Wake County Public School System had 3,621 students take 7,176 Advanced
Placement exams for 2005-06. WCPSS had 3,212 students take 6,365 AP exams
in 2004-05.
"Our high school principals have been encouraging rigor, relevance and relationships in their schools," said Superintendent Del Burns. "When we see a substantial increase for two years in a row in the number of students taking more challenging classes, we can see the results of hard work by our teachers and students. We are working to increase opportunities for rigor in our schools by increasing opportunities for our teachers to work together in vertical learning communities."
In some WCPSS high schools, teachers have established Vertical Learning Communities, where they work collaboratively to create a developmental approach to students' acquisition of essential skills and knowledge. In their classrooms, teachers help students become successful in rigorous academic curricula by teaching the skills of critical thinking, reading, and writing as a process. Students have an opportunity to practice and expand on these skills with support. As a result, students are more confident and successful in AP courses.
In the past eight years, the number of WCPSS students taking AP exams has more than doubled to 3,621 in 2005-06 from 1,798 in 1998-99. The number of exams taken increased to 7,176 from 3,471.
WCPSS students have been encouraged to take more challenging courses such as AP classes, International Baccalaureate classes and Honors classes. By taking more rigorous classes, students get a head start on college-level work, improve writing skills and sharpen problem-solving techniques, develop the study habits necessary for tackling rigorous course work and stand out in the college admissions process.
Students earn college credit
While the number of students and the number of AP exams increased, the percent
of students who scored 3 or higher on the exam was 74.7 percent in 2005-06.
The average exam score last year was 3.30. Students earn a grade of 1-5
on the exam. With a score of 3 or higher, students can often obtain course
credit from the colleges or universities they attend.
Each year nearly 50 percent of incoming freshmen at NC State present AP exam scores to receive advanced placement credit. Typically, students who score 3, 4, or 5 on AP exams can receive advanced placement credit and move more quickly into higher-level coursework.
The 3.30 exam average of WCPSS students is higher than the 2.90 worldwide exam average and the 2.76 exam average of NC students. While 74.7 percent of WCPSS students who took AP exams scored 3 or higher, 54.8 percent of NC students scored 3 or higher.
English Popular; Students Successful in Calculus
More than 1,000 WCPSS students took AP exams in English Language and Composition
and more than 900 WCPSS students took AP exams in Environmental Science.
There were increases of more than 100 students taking AP exams in English
Language and Composition, Environmental Science and U.S. History.
More than 90 percent of students scored a 3 or higher on Calculus BC. More than 80 percent of students scored a 3 or higher on Biology, European History, Psychology, and World History.
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