Thursday, September 5

More FCPS Students Take, Score Higher On AP Exams

Students in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) are taking the Advanced Placement (AP) examinations in greater numbers and have increased their average scores to 3.06 in 2002, up from 3.0 in 2001, according to data just released by FCPS Superintendent Daniel A. Domenech. 

The total number of students taking AP exams rose to 10,313 in 2002, up from 8,716 in 2001 (see Attachment 2), and the total number of AP exams taken by all students rose to 20,236, up from 17,351 in 2001 (see Attachment 1).  Along with the rise in participation is an increase in scores of three or above to 13,089 in 2002, up from 10,825 in 2001 (see Attachment 1), a three percent increase from 2001. 

“I am very encouraged by the increase in AP exam scores.  One of the School Board’s strategic target goals is to increase the number of students scoring a three or higher on AP exams to two-thirds of the total students, and we are within reach of that goal.  Our students continue to succeed with the help of dedicated, skilled teachers,” said Domenech.  “Every ethnic group saw an increase in numbers of students taking the exams, and most experienced a steady improvement in scores.”

Participation of minority students in the AP exams has increased significantly in Fairfax County.  Asian and White students’ participation rose in the greatest numbers from 2001 to 2002, with gains also being made by Black and Hispanic students (see Attachment 1).  The number of tests taken by Asian students rose from 3,488 in 2001 to 4,187 in 2002, and their scores rose from 2.88 to 2.95.  Scores for White students rose from 3.08 to 3.16 in 2002, with 12,509 tests taken, up from 11,022.  Scores for Hispanic students remained constant at 3.11, while the numbers of tests taken rose from 825 to 1,012.  Black students took 780 tests in 2002, up from 673 in 2001, with a slight decline in test scores from 2.47 in 2001 to 2.39 in 2002.

Students made the biggest gains, scoring three or above, in Art: Studio Drawing (20 percent gain); Calculus AB and European History (14 percent gain); and Macro Economics (13 percent gain).  Significant gains were also made in both English Language and Composition and Music Theory (9 percent gain);
Calculus BC (7 percent gain), and in both United States History and English Literature and Composition (6 percent gain) (see Attachment 4).

The numbers of students taking the tests at each grade level increased, with the most significant increase in ninth and tenth grade students, up from 620 in 2001 to 1,641 in 2002 (see Attachment 2).  Numbers for 11th grade students also rose, while numbers for 12th grade students declined.

Of the students who indicated their ethnicity, the number of White students increased from 5,505 in 2001 to 6,456 in 2002; the number of Asian students increased from 1,621 to 1,939; the number of Hispanic students increased from 503 to 598; and the number of Black students increased from 381 to 434
(see Attachment 3).

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Note:  For more information, contact Ray Diroll, coordinator, FCPS Office of Student Testing, at 703-208-7780.

 

 

 

 

 

Attachment 1

FCPS Results for All Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations
Mean Score and Number of Tests Taken and
Percent and Number at or Above 3
2000 Through 2002

 

Attachment 2

FCPS Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations
Number and Percent of Students
Tested by Grade Level
2000 Through 2002

Attachment 3

FCPS Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations
Number of Students Tested
by Ethnicity*
2000 Through 2002

*Numbers represent only those students who took the test and indicated their ethnicity.

Attachment 4

FCPS Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations by Subject
Mean Scores, Percent at or Above 3,
and Number of Tests Taken
2000 Through 2002

*Summary data are not reported for groups fewer than 25.

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