RI's AP Test Pass Rates More Than Doubled In The Last Decade

PROVIDENCE, RI — Rhode Island is a national leader when it comes to Advanced Placement test score improvement, the state's Department of Education reported Tuesday. The 10-year improvement rate is more than double the national average, the department said, and the state has the highest improvement over the past decade, five years and the past year.

The change came after the state invested in Advanced Placement programs, offering rewards to schools who offered these classes. Advanced Placement classes are managed by the College Board and offer college credit to high school students that pass the end-of-year test.

Over the past decade, the state's AP pass rate improved by 14.4 percentage points, nearly twice the national average of 8.2. In 2010, 10.8 percent of graduating seniors in the state passed at least one AP exam, which swelled to 25.2 percent last year. In that same period, only Washington, DC had better improvement rates, the College Board's 2020 AP exam report said. This marks the first time the state surpassed the national pass rate, which currently sits at 24.4 percent.

This trajectory of improvement continued in 2020, despite the heavy toll the coronavirus pandemic took on schools over the past year. Rhode Island saw its pass rate improve by 2.9 percentage points from 2019 to 2020, even as many other states saw their rates fall or hold steady.

"I’m so proud of our students," Gov. Dan McKee said. “Given all of the challenges during the past year – for them to have the largest improvement in AP pass rates in the nation is truly remarkable. These results are proof that when you give our students an opportunity and the resources to be successful – they thrive."

Part of the state's improvements come from increased access to AP classes, the Department of Education said. In the same 10-year period, Rhode Island doubled its participation rates from 17.5 percent of the Class of 2010 to 40.5 percent of the Class of 2020, higher than the national average of 38.3 percent.

"In Rhode Island, we are committed to graduating students with the skills they need for college and career success," Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green said. "The increase in both participation and performance should be viewed as clear indicators that our approach is working. Our school leaders, principals, and educators should be incredibly proud of their impact in increasing learning and improving outcomes in our classrooms."