Maryland students lead AP rankings

Maryland edged out New York for the first time to lead the nation in the College Board’s annual ranking of students’ performance in the group’s Advanced Placement program.

State officials were pleased, but made clear that class isn’t dismissed.

“Some people say, ’You have passed the national placement, what’s left?’ ” said Maryland State Schools Superintendent Nancy S. Grasmick. “But, we are not satisfied. We want a higher standard.”

Virginia ranked third in the group’s assessment, while the District remained near the bottom despite a modest improvement.

Maryland also led the nation in the percentage of high school students taking AP courses.

The percentage of Maryland seniors who earned a score of 3 or higher on one or more AP exams reached 23.4 percent last year, the highest level in the U.S.

Such test scores are considered “college mastery level.”

More than 21 percent of Virginia public school students scored 3 or better, according to the College Board.

In the District, 6.9 percent of students accomplished that feat, but a spokeswoman noted that the figures reflect only the city’s traditional public school system, not its charter schools.

Maryland had the third highest percentage growth in the number of students achieving college mastery over the past five years. The College Board further recognized Maryland as one of 18 states that eliminated the AP performance gap for Hispanics. No state succeeded in closing the gap for black students, but 9 percent of black students in Maryland earned the top scores.

Mrs. Grasmick said Maryland educators will continue to grow in the AP program. “We want to close any achievement gap in the minority students,” Mrs. Grasmick said. “We want to increase the number of students enrolled in Advanced Placement classrooms statewide, as well as the confidence in our teachers to offer AP and ensure that more students are succeeding on the national level. We do not want the floor to be our ceiling.”

Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, a Democrat, praised the public schools. “It’s an extraordinary distinction and one that doesn’t come as a surprise to anyone who is familiar with the dedication and professionalism of Maryland’s educators who have made our system the best in the America,” he said in a statement.

New York fell to a close second after Maryland with 23.3 percent. It’s the first time in five years of the report that Maryland has outranked New York.

In Virginia, 21.3 percent of students achieved college mastery. “Our students are showing that they are increasingly prepared to handle the rigorous tests,” said a representative. “We view this as a result of teachers and policy in the state.”

The District ranks above five states: Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Nebraska. The District’s college mastery rate of nearly 7 percent was up from 5.7 percent in 2007.

According to the report, AP students are much more likely to receive their degrees in four years. Finishing school on schedule helps families save money.

“In these times of economic distress, as family budgets are squeezed and financial aid resources are spread thin, rigorous courses like AP that prepare students for the demands of college and foster an increased likelihood of on-time graduation can be a very valuable resource for families,” said College Board President Gaston Caperton.