FLORIDA LEADS NATION IN PERCENTAGE OF 2009 GRADUATING SENIORS TAKING AND PASSING AP EXAMS
~~ ~~ Governor Crist applauds Florida’s Advanced Placement students and teachers ~~ ~~
February 10, 2010
Contact:
GOVERNOR’S PRESS OFFICE
(850) 488-5394
TALLAHASSEE – Governor Charlie Crist today applauded Florida Advanced Placement (AP) students and teachers following the College Board’s release of AP exam results. The results show that Florida is tied for fifth in the nation in the percentage of 2009 graduating seniors who passed (scored a 3 or higher) an AP exam in high school. The state’s five-spot jump from last year’s ranking includes a 3.1-percentage increase in the passing rate, nearly double the increase of the next ranked state. Florida also moved to the top of the nation in the percentage of 2009 graduating seniors who took an AP exam in high school.
“Tomorrow’s innovation-based economy is relying on the success of our students and the teachers and parents who encourage them throughout their education and development. I applaud these dedicated Floridians for their continuing improvements and hard work to better themselves and our state,” said Governor Crist. “This achievement is exciting news for the future of Florida, and teachers of college-level courses like Advanced Placement should be rewarded for their extra effort, just as their students are.”
In addition to Florida’s overall AP progress, minority students also demonstrated improvements in both participation and performance. African-American and Hispanic 2009 graduating seniors experienced increases in both the percent taking and the percent passing AP exams. Florida is also the only state in the nation with a significant number of Hispanic students that has eliminated the AP achievement gap for Hispanic 2009 graduating seniors.
“Florida’s students continue to pave the road of educational progress, and these latest AP results are a tribute to the hard work of parents and teachers throughout the state,” said Education Commissioner Dr. Eric J. Smith. “Exposing our students to rigorous coursework such as AP is important to ensuring they leave our schools prepared for college or a career.”
The report also highlights seven Florida public schools that lead the nation in increasing AP access and performance for African-American and Hispanic 2009 graduating seniors. No other state in the country has as many public schools recognized. The highlighted schools are:
Barbara Goleman Senior High School – Miami
Coral Reef Senior High School – Miami
Cypress Bay High School – Weston
Design and Architecture Senior High – Miami
Miami Coral Park Senior High School – Miami
Miami Killian Senior High School – Miami
Stanton College Preparatory School – Jacksonville
Governor Crist’s 2010-11 budget recommendations includes bonuses for teachers whose students achieve qualifying scores on college-level course exams taken during high school. Teachers of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and Advanced International Certificate of Education courses currently earn a $50 bonus (up to $2,000 per teacher) for each student who achieves a qualifying score on exams that are benchmarked nationally and internationally. Governor Crist’s recommendation would, through legislation, increase the bonuses and remove the $2,000 cap on the amount teachers can earn.
For more information on the latest AP results, visit www.collegeboard.com/apreport.
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