More Tennessee Minority Students Taking AP Exams

February 24, 2009 

Tennessee is showing gains in the number of African-American and Hispanic high school students taking Advanced Placement exams.

According to a report from The College Board, the number of Tennessee's African-American high school students taking a least one Advanced Placement exam has increased 9%. The increase for Hispanic students is even greater: 35%. Overall student AP test-taking participation has increased by nearly seven percent in the state since 2007.

"Taking AP classes exposes students to greater challenges and is a good indicator of how ready they are to tackle the higher-level skills needed for college coursework and the workplace," said Timothy Webb, Tennessee's education commissioner.

The gains are apparently the result of the Tennessee Diploma Project (TDP), which has increased high school graduation requirements and raised academic standards to better prepare students for college, the workforce, and careers. Next fall, Tennessee's high school students will be required to complete a college- and work-ready-based curriculum.

The changes to the state's mathematics and science curricula reflect the greater educational expectations of organizations such as the National Assessment of Educational Progress and The College Board.

Source: Greenville (Tenn.) Sun, Feb. 5, 2009; Tennessee Department of Education, Feb. 4, 2009.