How Rhode Island Made Strides in AP Participation and Achievement
GoLocalProv News Team
How Rhode Island Made Strides in AP Participation and Achievement
AP courses, managed by the College Board, are college-level classes that students can take in high school. Students who earn a score of 3 or higher (out of 5) on an AP Exam can earn college credits at most colleges. Rhode Island is also above the national average for the percentage of students in the Class of 2021 scoring a 3 or higher.
Rhode Island had the largest improvement in AP pass rates of any state over the past 10 and 5 years. Rhode Island’s graduating class of 2021 passed at least one AP exam at almost double that of the class of 2011. (22.7% of the class of 2021 passed versus 11.9% for the class of 2011). This 10-year growth of 10.8 percentage points is more than double the national average growth of 5.3 percentage points (only the District of Columbia showed slightly higher pass rates).
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AP in Focus
Last year, Rhode Island legislators passed Bill S 0209 providing RIDE with funding for AP teacher professional development and AP funding waivers. This funding ensures that all low-income students are able to take AP exams at no cost to themselves, their families, or their local education agencies.
The Rhode Island Department of Education cites the dramatic increase in both access and students'performance coinciding with its decision to reward schools and measure postsecondary outcomes like Advanced Placement scores, dual enrollment courses, and CTE through the diploma plus measure in school accountability. Diploma Plus recognizes high schools for the percentage of students who graduate with a diploma plus college credit or industry-recognized credentials.
“Rhode Island’s educators and policymakers have done something utterly remarkable,” said Trevor Packer, head of the AP Program. “Rhode Island has achieved greater gains in access to AP courses, while also achieving a larger increase in high AP exam scores, than any other state over this past decade.”
"We are very proud of our students and teachers for taking and passing the AP exams at record rates,” said Governor Dan McKee. “My administration has worked hard to make this possible by increasing opportunities for students in every district. We are going to keep working hard to increase the rate of AP exam passage in Rhode Island.”
“This is an excellent example of how Rhode Island can lead the nation when we chart a course and stick with it. Our teachers, principals, and instructional leaders should be proud of the impact they have made on our high schools over the last decade,” said RIDE Angélica Commissioner Infante-Green. “Despite the impacts of COVID-19, the work is continuing to pay off and our students are finding even greater success year-over-year.”
Research and Results
According to RIDE, research shows that such courses have increased Rhode Island students’ rates of graduating from high school, enrolling in college, and bypassing college remediation.
The study, which was commissioned by the US Department of Education’s Institute for Educational Sciences, showed that public high school students who participate in at least one dual enrollment class, concurrent enrollment class, or AP class are 21% more likely to graduate from high school on time, 30% more likely to enroll in postsecondary education within one year of graduating, and are statistically significantly more likely to avoid developmental, remedial coursework at the three public colleges in Rhode Island.
Early college opportunities in Rhode Island are supported by the PrepareRI dual enrollment fund, the All Course Network, CS4RI, TwoCodes, and PrepareRI, as well as being supported by LEA-specific policies.
To learn more about the state’s early college opportunities visit: https://www.ride.ri.gov/StudentsFamilies/EducationPrograms/EarlyCollegeOpportunities.aspx