Newtown Schools Recognized For AP Testing And Access

The school district announced March 14 that Newtown is one of fewer than 400 school districts in the nation honored by the College Board with a place on its AP Achievement List for opening advanced placement (AP) classroom doors to a significantly broader pool of students, while maintaining or improving the percentage of students earning scores of 3 or higher on AP tests.

From 2008 to 2010, Newtown Public Schools increased the number of students participating in advance placement courses from 287 to 333, while improving the percentage of students earning AP Exam scores of 3 or higher, the score typically needed to earn college credit, from 75 percent in 2008 to 76.5 percent in 2010, according to a press release.

 “Over the last three years, we have made a consistent effort to involve more students in AP courses and to increase the rigor of the courses. We want students to be challenged to think deeply about their learning,” said Superintendent of Schools Janet Robinson.

The AP Achievement List is made up of all school districts that are simultaneously expanding opportunity and improving performance. Low-performing districts are included if they have been able to maintain or improve scores while expanding access. The list includes 388 school districts representing 43 states.

Many US school districts have focused on expanding access to AP courses as part of a strategy for fostering college readiness, according to the school district. While these efforts have resulted in more students earning scores of 3 or better, efforts have also resulted in more students now earning scores of 1 or 2. Accordingly, there has been a slight decline since 2001 in the percentage of AP students scoring a 3 or better, a decline that is to be expected in any program attracting a broader cross-section of students.

AP tests are offered at the end of an AP course. Students at the high school are charged for the test, but the school has reported in the past there are options for students who demonstrate they are unable to cover the cost of a test.

Inclusion on the AP Achievement List is based on an examination of three years of AP test data, increased participation in or access to AP courses by at least four percent in large districts, at least seven percent in medium districts and at least 11 percent in small districts, a steady or increasing percentage of exams taken by African American, Hispanic/Latino, and American Indian/Alaska Native students, and performance levels maintained or improved when comparing the percentage of exams in 2010 scoring a 3 or higher to those in 2008, or the school has already attained a performance level in which more than 70 percent of the AP students are scoring a 3 or higher.

Additionally, school districts with an AP student population composed of 50 percent or more traditionally underrepresented minority students (African American, Hispanic/Latino, American Indian/Alaska Native) and/or low-income students have been noted on the Achievement List to highlight significant improvements in equity and quality among the nation’s historically underserved student populations, according to a press release.

The complete AP Achievement List can be found at www.collegeboard.org.