Illinois posts top U.S. increase in AP scores

Gov. Pritzker touts jump in Advanced Placement students earning a 3 or higher on exams

Students at Chicago’s Lane Tech celebrate their graduation. (One Illinois/Ted Cox)

By Ted Cox

Illinois posted the largest increase in the nation last year in students scoring a 3 or higher on Advanced Placement exams, according to the agency that administers the tests.

The Illinois State Board of Education touted the results Tuesday, finding that the percentage of graduating seniors last year who’d scored a 3 or better, on the scale of 1 to 5, on an AP exam in high school rose 4 percent, from 27.3 percent of seniors in 2018 to 28.4 percent in 2019.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has praised expansion of AP classes statewide, having budgeted $2 million to reduce fees for the courses last year, and increasing that to $2.5 million in his budget proposal released this month.

“I've made it a priority for Illinois to invest in and expand access to Advanced Placement, especially for low-income students, and I'm pleased to see the hard work of students and educators paying off in ways that will help students earn college credit while they're still in high school," Pritzker said in a statement on an ISBE news release. “AP classes also help students prepare for the rigors of college coursework, and we will continue to build on our investments to help even more students from every part of the state succeed.”

“I've made it a priority for Illinois to invest in and expand access to Advanced Placement, especially for low-income students, and I'm pleased to see the hard work of students and educators paying off.”

Gov. J.B. Pritzker (Illinois.gov)

AP exams are given with a student’s completion of the course, and they’re graded to five levels, with 1 determining “no recommendation,” 2 being “possibly qualified,” 3 being “qualified,” 4 being “very well qualified,” and 5 being “extremely well qualified.”

Some colleges and universities offer credits for completion of an AP course in high school, usually dependent on the score a student earns. Pritzker has touted that they can shorten a student’s stay in college for a semester or a full year, meaning a semester’s or a year’s tuition that doesn’t have to be paid before graduation.

ISBE has tried to expand AP course offerings across the state, and its 2019 Illinois Report Card showed four years of continuous growth in students' access to and success in Advanced Placement. Pritzker has designated funds to help reduce costs for the classes, which can be prohibitive for some students even if their school offers the courses.

“AP courses and exams prepare students for in-demand degrees, credentials, and careers," said State Superintendent of Education Carmen Ayala. “Illinois's schools and districts are leading the nation in supporting students from all backgrounds to reach the rigor they need to succeed after high school.”

The College Board, which also runs the SAT, oversees the tests. According to ISBE, the board found that Latino students “are driving Illinois's gains in AP exam participation and success,” with Latino AP enrollment up 3.8 percent year to year, from 25.7 percent of all AP exam takers in 2018 to 26.7 percent in 2019.

“Statewide, students of color made up 48 percent of total students enrolled in AP courses in 2019 — up 6 percentage points from just three years ago,” ISBE added. “At the same time that the state has expanded access, Illinois has raised its pass rate on AP Exams by 2.3 percentage points since 2016.”

According to ISBE, last year’s seniors “saw the largest growth in the numbers of students taking AP exams for Computer Science Principles, Spanish Language and Culture, English Language and Composition, U.S. History, and Human Geography.”