More Kentucky students are taking Advanced Placement (AP) tests and scoring higher, according to data released Tuesday by the College Board.

Since 2008, the number of Kentucky public high school students taking AP examinations has more than doubled and the number of tests with a qualifying score of 3, 4, or 5, has increased by 115 percent.

  Number of AP Test-Takers Number of Tests Number of Scores 3-5
2008 14,664 23,280 10,925
2009 16,958 27,129 13,178
2010 19,604 31,742 14,837
2011 23,547 37,977 17,404
2012 26,523 43,185 20,316
2013 28,147 45,553 21,922
2014 30,133 48,734 23,519

The Advanced Placement program gives students the opportunity to pursue college-level coursework while still in high school.

“Kentucky has made a commitment to expanding access to challenging coursework for students thanks in part to our AdvanceKentucky initiative,” said Education Commissioner Terry Holliday. “AdvanceKentucky is contributing significantly to the numbers, especially among students who are traditionally underserved and underrepresented in Advanced Placement courses.”

AdvanceKentucky is a statewide math-science initiative designed to expand access to, and participation and success in academically rigorous coursework such as AP classes for Kentucky high school students.

A total of 88 Kentucky high schools in 64 districts have participated in AdvanceKentucky since its inception in 2008; more than 3,100 AP and pre-AP math, science and English teachers statewide have taken advantage of AdvanceKentucky’s summer training program.

Significantly more students in AdvanceKentucky schools earn higher scores on AP exams when compared with their peers. Research also shows they are less likely to need postsecondary remediation and are more likely to stay in college. AdvanceKentucky is an initiative of the Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation, the state’s affiliate of the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI).

Since 2008, the AP participation and performance of ethnic groups in Kentucky’s public schools has increased significantly, in large part due to the AdvanceKentucky initiative.

  2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
African American 686 14 1,011 1,295 1,412 1,495 1,466
American Indian 45 41 60 76 91 116 120
Asian 602 693 720 832 922 1,044 1,093
Hispanic 283 388 448 577 754 869 965
White 12,511 14,369 16,496 19,794 22,014 23,493 25,304
Other 303 409 442 538 582 684 670
No Response 234 244 427 435 748 446 515
TOTAL 14,664 16,958 19,604 23,547 26,523 28,147 30,133

The number of AP test scores of 3, 4 or 5 has risen for students in all ethnic groups.

NUMBER OF STUDENTS SCORING 3, 4 OR 5 ON AN AP EXAM – BY ETHNICITY

  2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
African American 204 255 287 372 379 384 605
American Indian 19 21 25 24 44 45 71
Asian 406 471 477 561 624 667 1,496
Hispanic 150 190 223 301 364 379 661
White 6,088 7,298 8,247 9,633 10,979 11,854 19,872
Other 150 182 199 270 268 342 572
No Response 112 130 224 170 341 137 242
TOTAL 7,129 8,547 9,682 11,331 12,999 13,808 23,519

Although it varies from school to school, most colleges require a minimum qualifying score of 3 on an AP exam to earn college credit for the course. According to the College Board, the typical student who receives a score of 3 or higher on two AP exams has the potential to save an average of more than $1,700 at a public four-year college in Kentucky and $4,700 at a private institution.