NC high school students just achieved record participation and performance in Advanced Placement (AP) courses during the 2023-24 school year.
Over 155,000 AP exams were administered, with 65.4% scoring a 3 or higher, surpassing the national average and marking the state’s highest average in a decade. This increase represents more than 8,800 additional students and nearly 19,000 more exams taken compared to the previous year.
“Not only are students performing better on AP exams, but there are more students taking the exams and scoring 3 or better,” said Dr. Michael Maher in a press release. “Expanded access to AP exams is an important step in helping students prepare for the postsecondary plan of their choice.”
Significant gains were seen among Black and Hispanic students, both in participation and in scores, further closing racial and ethnic gaps in AP exam access and achievement.
AP exam success can lead to transferable college credits, helping reduce higher education costs. The number of Black students taking AP exams rose by 19.3%, with a 45.3% increase in those earning top scores. Similarly, Hispanic students saw a 20.9% increase in participation and a 36.6% improvement in achieving a score of 3 or higher.
These improvements reflect the North Carolina school system’s commitment to expanding access to rigorous academic opportunities for students across all demographics. The increased participation and higher proficiency scores across racial groups demonstrate the effectiveness of ongoing efforts to promote educational equity. This achievement further positions students for success in college, where AP course experience is associated with higher rates of persistence and graduation.
