CLARKSVILLE, Tenn (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn announced today that more than 33,800 Tennessee public school students took the Advanced Placement (AP) exams in the 2018-19 school year, breaking the previous year’s record high of 32,000 for Tennessee. Across Tennessee, 17,607 students earned a passing score of three, four or five.
AP classes offer students the ability to take college-level course work and earn college credit based on their performance on the national AP exam administered by the College Board.
Research shows that students who take advantage of at least four early post-secondary opportunities are more likely to be prepared for college. Statewide, 33,806 students took a total 56,346 AP exams last year.
In the 2018-2019 school year, 1,343 CMCSS students were enrolled in AP classes, taking a combined 2,198 exams. 1,046 exams reached a passing grade.
CMCSS has maintained a pass rate of approximately 49% for the past several years. This pass rate is more than double the national average, which was about 22% in 2016.
“One of the reasons for CMCSS students’ success is the incentive of winning a brand new car,” said CMCSS Chief Communication Officer Elise Shelton.
The Pass and Go program was launched in 2009 during a time when AP enrollment exam passage rates were stagnant and enrollment in the rigorous courses was declining. The idea was to reward students who not only enrolled in advanced placement courses, but also passed with a score of three, four or five.
Since the program’s first year, the number of students has increased from 200 to almost 1,2oo taking AP courses.
“It’s so encouraging to see that Tennessee high schools are not only offering more opportunities for students, but are also challenging students to take on more rigorous coursework.” Penny Schwinn, commissioner of education said. “Continued growth is what we strive for at the department, and this is an achievement not only for the students but also for the teachers, who work so hard every day.”