A recent College Board audit shows a 13-percent decrease in the number of Advanced Placement classes in high schools worldwide, but Tennessee education officials say they’ve seen the opposite trend here. In fact, since the 2002 school year, the number of AP classes offered in the state has grown by nearly 35-percent.
Students in the highly competitive courses must pass a year-end test to receive up to three hours of college credit for the class.
Education department spokeswoman Rachel Woods says the most important measure is how students perform on the AP tests.
“From 05-06 to 06-07 the number of students that scored well enough to get college credit went up 14-percent. So that tells us not only are lots of students taking the classes, but they’re doing well, which means there is that rigor in the classroom offering college level work.”
Woods says state officials would like to see more schools offer Advanced Placement classes. All of the state’s high schools have the ability to offer the classes, but only half do.
On Air - 90.3 WPLN-FM