A study finds the number of Kentucky high school students earning college credit through Advanced Placement classes has grown by 100 percent over the last five years. That’s double the national average, according to Joanne Lang with Advance Kentucky, a group that works with schools to encourage students to take advanced placement classes. She says AP classes give students a big head start.
“Just this week we released a study that shows the longitudinal impact – that is – how are kids doing in college,” said Lang. “Does AP participation in high school make a difference in how successful kids are in college? And we find it’s a resounding ‘Yes’.”
Lang says they’ve seen a boost in the number of low-income and minority students earning AP credit.
“It’s student populations that are traditionally underrepresented in advance placement – not only in Kentucky but nationwide,” said Lang. “That’s our target audience. Can we build many more of those students into the population of AP and rigorous success?”
Lang says Advance Kentucky strives to work with 10-20 new schools per year. For the past five years it’s been funded by the National Math and Science Initiative, the Kentucky Department of Education and several other agencies, both public and private.