Lexington, KY – An initiative to boost enrollment of Kentucky students in advanced-placement (AP) math, science and English programs has contributed to significant gains in qualifying scores and better performance in college, according to a recent five-year review of the program.
In its first five years of operation, AdvanceKentucky has grown gradually to support the efforts of more than 600 AP teachers among 88 public high schools from 67 school districts across the state, in addition to 2,500 pre-AP math, science and English teachers in these and 10 additional districts. The initiative has served a total of 65,000 AP math, science and English enrollments in that time.
According to the most recent review of the program’s results, schools in which AdvanceKentucky has intervened for the last five years have experienced a 413 percent gain on average in the number of qualifying scores achieved on AP math, science and English tests. The typical school has increased from a baseline of 23 qualifying scores to 118 qualifying scores over five years.
In addition, Kentucky’s AP performance in all subjects has increased by 100 percent — and by 137 percent among minority students — over those five years, ranking among the highest increases in the nation. Qualifying scores on AP math, science and English exams for minority students have increased by 180 percent over that time as well.
A preliminary review of student performance after high school has also shown that students from AdvanceKentucky classrooms maintain higher GPAs and are able to manage larger course loads than their peers, and the combined components of the AdvanceKentucky program have contributed to a decreased need for college remediation and an increased likelihood that students will persist beyond the first semester of college.
AdvanceKentucky is an initiative of Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation as the state’s affiliate of the National Math and Science Initiative. The initiative works to replicate a proven model to enroll more students, particularly from underrepresented populations, in AP math, science and English courses, in the interest of improving their preparation for college.