College Board places Northshore School District on 2nd Annual AP District Honor Roll

Northshore School District is one of 367 public school districts in the nation being honored by the College Board with a place on the 2nd Annual AP Honor Roll for 2011-12. The district is recognized for simultaneously increasing access to advanced-placement (AP) coursework while maintaining or increasing the percentage of students earning scores of 3 or higher on AP exams.  Northshore is one of four school districts in the state that have received this honor two years in a row.

Since 2009, Northshore School District increased the number of students participating in AP from 521 to 867, while improving the percentage of students earning AP exam scores of 3 or higher from 66 percent in 2009 to 71 percent in 2011.  The majority of U.S. colleges and universities grant college credit or advanced placement for a score of 3 or above on AP exams.

Inclusion on the 2nd Annual AP District Honor Roll is based on the following criteria:

• Examination of three years of AP data, from 2009 to 2011;

• Increase in participation in/access to AP by at least 4 percent in large districts, at least 6 percent in medium districts and at least 11 percent in small districts;

• A steady or increasing percentage of exams taken by African American, Hispanic/Latino and American Indian/Alaska Native students; and

• Performance levels maintained or improved when comparing the percentage of students in 2011 scoring a 3 or higher to those in 2009, or the school has already attained a performance level in which more than 70 percent of the AP students are scoring a 3 or higher.

“Participation in college-level AP courses can level the playing field for underserved students, give them the confidence needed to succeed in college, and raise standards and performance in key subjects like science and math,” said College Board President Gaston Caperton. “The AP Honor Roll districts are defying expectations by expanding access while enabling their students to maintain or improve their AP exam scores.”

The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program enables students to pursue college-level studies while still in high school. Through more than 30 college-level courses, each culminating in a rigorous exam, AP provides willing and academically prepared students with the opportunity to earn college credit, advanced placement or both. Taking AP courses also demonstrates to college admission officers that students have sought the most rigorous curriculum available to them.

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