School Board Report

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May 2007 Advanced PlacementExam Results
School Board Report
February 19, 2008
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Prepare Now to Succeed in College

• A 1999 U.S. Department of Education study found
  that the strongest predictor of college
  graduation is something students do before they
  ever go to college
• Participate in rigorous, college-level courses in
  high schooland AP courses in particular.
• Clifford Adelman, Answers in the Tool Box
  Academic Intensity, Attendance Patterns, and
  Bachelors Degree Attainment (1999), U.S.
  Department of Education.

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What are Advanced Placement (AP) Courses and
Exams?

• AP Courses
• College-level courses
• 37 courses in 22 subject areas
• AP Exams
• Cumulative examination for an AP course
• Generally last for 2-3 hours
• Multiple choice and free response (essay)
• Scored on a scale from 1-5 with 3 considered a
  qualifying score

4
Who should take AP courses?
NNPS uses the College Boards official policy for
enrollment, which indicates that all willing
students should be considered for admission to AP
courses.
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Why should students take AP courses and exams?

• Earn credit/placement for qualifying AP Exam
  grades
• Stand out in the admissions process
• Earn academic scholarships and awards
• Experience a college-level exam
• Be prepared for college-level course work
• Be a step ahead

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AP Courses in Newport News Not Tested in 2007

• Art History
• Biology
• Calculus AB
• Calculus BC
• Chemistry
• Chinese Language Culture
• Comparative Government Politics
• Computer Science A
• Computer Science AB
• English Language Composition
• English Literature Composition
• Environmental Science
• European History
• French Language
• French Literature
• German Language
• Human Geography
• Italian Language Culture

• Japanese Language Culture
• Latin Literature
• Latin Vergil
• Macroeconomics
• Microeconomics
• Music Theory
• Physics B
• Physics C Electricity Magnetism
• Physics C Mechanics
• Psychology
• Spanish Language
• Spanish Literature
• Statistics
• Studio Art 2-D Design
• Studio Art 3-D Design
• Studio Art Drawing
• United States Government Politics
• United States History
• World History

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AP ExamsDivision Results
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AP Exams Number of Candidates and Examinations

• 47 increase in students since 2001
• 24 increase in number of examinations since 2001

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AP Exams of Exams Scored 3 or Higher
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AP Exams Ethnicity Summary of Exams

• African-American Students 21 since 2003

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AP Exams Ethnicity Summary Mean Scores

• All mean scores have improved from 2006

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AP Exams Ethnicity Summary Grades gt3
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AP Results Division Highlights

• 1,603 students took 2,906 AP exams
• Overall Mean Grade of AP Exams increased to 2.34
• Scores of 3 or higher were noted on 40 of tests
  taken

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AP Results Division Highlights

• Best performances (scores of 3 or higher) were
  achieved in
• Calculus BC 70
• Human Geography 64
• Statistics 69
• Psychology 50
• The number of students taking at least 1 AP exam
  has increased for the following groups
• African-American 30 since 2004
• White 8 since 2004

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AP Initiatives
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AP Initiatives
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AP Initiatives
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AP Participation Matters

• SMART Schools
• Denbigh, Heritage, Menchville, Warwick, and
  Woodside named as Newsweek magazine's 100 Best
  High Schools
• 21st Century Readiness
• Ability to problem solve
• Excellent reading and writing skills
• Sound math/science background
• Global awareness
• Strong work ethic