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Dom Slowey
Data from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (2012-13) shows that students in Boston charter public high schools took and passed Advanced Placement (AP) exams at far higher rates than students in open-admission Boston district high schools.
Participation in AP courses and success on AP exams have been shown to predict college success.
Pass Rates:
- In Boston’s charter high schools, 25% of AP tests resulted in a passing grade (3 or higher).
- In Boston’s non-exam district high schools, 14% of AP tests resulted in a passing grade.
- In Boston’s three exam district high schools (i.e. district high schools that admit students based on an entrance exam), 72% of AP tests resulted in a passing grade.
Participation Rates:
- n Boston’s charter high schools, 51% of upperclassmen (i.e. junior and seniors) took one or more AP exams. In some Boston charters that have “AP for all” policies, the participation rate was 75%.
- In Boston’s non-exam district high schools, only 18% of upperclassmen took one or more AP exams.
- In Boston’s three district exam high schools, 91% of upperclassmen took one or more AP exams.
- Across all Boston district high schools, 90% of AP tests that resulted in a passing score were taken by students enrolled in one of Boston’s three exam schools.
- In Boston charter high schools, 48% of the African American upperclassmen and 42% of Latino upperclassmen took one or more AP exams. By contrast, in Boston’s non-exam district high schools, 16% of African-American upperclassmen and 22% of Latino upperclassmen took one or more AP exams.
