Local high schools expand AP testing
Anderson County High Schools had a record number of students take AP tests, according to Director of Secondary Schools Eric Snider.
A total of 127 students took the test, an increase of 38 students from last year.
AP classes offer students the ability to take college-level course work and earn college credit based on their performance on the national AP exam administered by the College Board, according to the Tennessee Department of Education. Anderson County Schools offer AP tests in biology, calculus, chemistry, English language and composition, English literature and composition, physics, statistics, U.S. history, world history and government.
“About 68-percent of our students got a score of 3, 4 or 5,” said Snider.
A score of 3 or higher makes students eligible for college credit at many institutions, according to Snider. In comparison, the number of students in the state that scored a 3 or higher is 57-percent. Globally, the average is 61-percent.
“These are extremely rigorous tests,” he continued. “We’re testing more kids and scoring higher than in years past. I attribute this to the hard work the teachers are doing in these courses. They have to go through special training to be AP certified.”
In recent years, Tennessee has made great strides in creating and expanding early postsecondary opportunities for students, including growing the number of students participating in AP classes across the state, Education Commissioner Candice McQueen said in a press release.
“The expansion of AP courses is one piece of making sure our students are prepared for the rigor of postsecondary coursework, and ultimately ready to be successful in their future careers,” she said. “These results show that this emphasis is creating impactful change in our schools and allowing more of our students the opportunity to earn college credit while in high school.”
