Massachusetts again led the nation with the highest percentage of 2022 graduating students who scored a 3 or higher on AP exams during high school, according to CollegeBoard reports released Wednesday.
“I’m proud of the students and educators who worked hard to make sure Massachusetts remains a leader in student participation and success,” Governor Maura Healey said in a DESE release, expressing a commitment “to expanding access to AP courses for all students.”
In the state, 30.5% of students who graduated in 2022 scored a 3 or higher on Advanced Placement exams during high school — generally considered a passing grade to obtain college credit in the course — far outpacing the national percentage, 21.6%.
The continued upswing in AP scores comes even as 2022 MCAS across the board took a whopping pandemic-hit, plunging to their lowest levels in decades.
Massachusetts previously held the top spot for AP scores in 2021, 2019 and 2017, and the percentage of students has grown by 5.8% in the last decade. The state is followed by New York with 29.6% and Florida with 28.8%.
The state has also made strides in increasing access for minority students, DESE detailed, with 26 schools receiving AP awards for accessibility.
The percentage of Hispanic/Latino graduates who took the exams has grown 16.2% over the last decade — the fifth highest increase in the country — reaching 35.9% in 2022 — the eighth highest percentage in the country.
The percentage of Black graduates who took the exams grew 10.2% in the last decade — the sixth highest increase — reaching 31.1% in 2022 — the third highest percentage in the country.
“As the superintendent in Lynn, it was a priority of mine to ensure that more students were given the opportunity to succeed in these classes, especially those barred from advanced courses in the past,” said Education Secretary Patrick Tutwiler. “I look forward to continuing that work across Massachusetts and building on the achievement we’ve seen so far.”
The department cited expansion efforts including programs targeted towards unserved students and within science, technology, engineering and math fields and subsidies for low-income students, which families may apply for.
Massachusetts has hit 90% of high schools offering at least one of the college level courses and ranks fourth in terms of the number of 2022 graduates who took the exams during high school, 43.7%.
“It’s great to be at the top of the list not just for participation and achievement, but also for equity and expanding access,” Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll said, again emphasizing a commitment to keep increasing opportunities.