North Carolina high school students have reached new heights in their Advanced Placement (AP) achievements during the 2023-24 academic year, setting unprecedented records in both participation and performance. This remarkable progress coincides with a decade-long collaboration between the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) and the College Board, the organization responsible for the AP program and exams.
During this period, over 155,000 AP exams were administered, with a notable 65.4 percent of students achieving a proficient score of 3 or higher. This surpassed the national average of 65 percent and marked a significant improvement from North Carolina’s 59 percent proficiency rate in the 2022-23 academic year, representing the highest average scores in the state over the last decade.
The increased access to AP exams has been pivotal, with 8,808 more students taking at least one AP exam compared to the previous year. This resulted in approximately 19,000 additional exams taken, bringing the total number of North Carolina students participating in AP exams to a record-breaking 84,372, the highest in the past ten years.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Catherine Truitt, expressed her pride in the achievements of both students and educators, highlighting the implications for students’ futures. “I could not be prouder of the students and educators across North Carolina,” Truitt stated. “To outperform the nation is a tremendous accomplishment. These results are a testament to students’ tenacity and commitment to their futures. Increasing access to AP exams is just one way we can ensure students are prepared to pursue the postgraduate plan of their choice, and we are thankful to the General Assembly for the increased funding that enabled us to truly expand access in the 2023-24 school year.”
The College Board: 2024 State Integrated Report – North Carolina Public Schools
In total, 84,372 public school students in North Carolina took 155,935 AP exams, and 101,950 of these exams received a score of 3 or higher. This marks a 16.4 percent increase from the low point during the 2020-21 academic year. Notably, the data also indicate narrowing racial and ethnic disparities in AP exam access.
- The number of AP exams taken by Black students rose by 19.3 percent compared to the previous year.
- The number of AP exams taken by Hispanic or Latino students increased by 20.9 percent over the previous year.
Beyond increased participation, North Carolina students demonstrated improved scores across various demographics.
- The number of AP exams taken by Black students scoring a 3, 4, or 5 increased by 45.3 percent, outpacing the national growth rate of 32.5 percent.
- The number of AP exams taken by Hispanic or Latino students achieving scores of 3, 4, or 5 grew by 36.6 percent, exceeding the national increase of 25.2 percent.
Success in the AP exams can translate into college credits and reduced tuition costs, while research suggests that students enrolled in AP courses are more likely to persist through college and graduate within four years.
Dr. Michael Maher, deputy state superintendent of standards, accountability, and research for NCDPI, emphasized the importance of the growing number of students excelling in AP exams. “Not only are students performing better on AP exams,” Maher noted, “but there are more students taking the exams and scoring 3 or better. Expanded access to AP exams is an important step in helping students prepare for the postsecondary plan of their choice.”
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