Tennessee Making Advanced Placement Gains

The number of Tennessee high schoolers taking Advanced Placement classes is on the rise, especially among minorities. Even so, the state lags behind the national average for participation in the college-level courses.

According to a new report from the College Board, just over 16 percent of Tennessee students took AP classes in 2008. That’s a seven percent gain over the previous year, but still lower than the national average by a third.

Amanda Anderson is a spokesperson for the Tennessee Department of Education. She expects those numbers will rise as the state adopts tougher standards.

“We’re implementing the TDP, the Tennessee Diploma Project, this fall and that’s going to be encouraging students to take higher level courses like AP classes. We’re hoping that there is a direct correlation because obviously that’s across the board we’re raising graduation requirements for all students.”

The number of African American Tennesseans taking AP classes is disproportionately low, but growing at a rate of nine percent. At the same time, the number of Hispanic students doing the same shot up by double digits. And while the Hispanic community makes up just two and a half percent of the overall school population, they make up more than three percent of the AP class rolls.

The decision to offer Advanced Placement classes is made on the district level. At the end of the course, students take rigorous national exams. Depending on their score, they may earn college credit. Tennessee students perform as well as the rest of the nation on those exams.