Release Date: Aug 25, 2009 3:15 PM  

(Dover, DE.) According to statistics released earlier today by the College Board, the number of Delaware public school students participating in Advanced Placement (AP) continued to climb compared to last year's results including the number of examinations taken by students and the number of scores at "3" or higher.

Compared to 2008, the number of public school students participating in AP examinations increased by 3.9% while over the past five years, that increase has risen to 15%.  In 2009, the number of AP exams increased by 8.2%; in two years the percentage has risen 12.8%.  Also, AP participation rates increased for American Indian, Asian, Black, Hispanic and White test takers in the past year.  In the past five years, the participation rate increased 67% for Hispanic test takers, the most for any ethnic group.      

Of the 6,069 AP examinations given to Delaware public school students, 3,251 students received a score of 3 or higher, an increase of 11.9%; in two years this increase averages to 10.4%.  This year's percentage increase outpaces the nation's rate of 9.4%.  The percentage of students scoring "3" or higher increased for the American Indian, Asian, Black, Hispanic and White test taker ethnic groups.  Over the past five years, the number of Hispanic students receiving a "3" or higher has increased nearly 85%.      

"I am pleased that more and more of our student population are scoring at "3" or higher on the Advanced Placement examinations," said Governor Jack Markell.  "This is good news for Delaware's students and parents since a score of 3 or higher is generally needed at most colleges and universities in order to receive course credit.  Success in AP courses is an indicator of success in postsecondary institutions, which is critical for our economic future because in the 21st century economy, greater prosperity for many means post-secondary education."

A breakdown of Delaware public school students taking AP examinations is as follows:

Group	# of Students	No. of Exams	Scores of  3-5
Male	1485	2768	1622
Female	1886	3301	1629
American Indian	15	26	14
Asian	340	816	571
Black	383	604	193
Mexican American	49	86	28
Puerto Rican	40	71	26
Other Hispanic	65	114	64
White	2315	4062	2233
Other	103	182	75
No Response	64	106	47

In 2006, Delaware received a three year competitive grant called the Advanced Placement Incentive Program (APIP) grant.  This $3 million federally funded competitive grant has provided professional development for middle and high school teachers in English Language Arts, math and science.  It has also provided school leadership for middle and high school principals to help increase rigor in all classes so all students are prepared to succeed in AP courses.

Today's College Board announcement also included the results of the average critical reading, math and writing scores of Delaware's public and non-public college-bound seniors who took the SAT Reasoning Test increased in comparison to last year's test scores.   

On the critical reading portion of the SAT Reasoning Test, Delaware's students, both public and non-public, scored an average of 495, a four point decrease from last year.  Nationally, students averaged a 501 on the critical reading portion of the SAT, a one point decrease from 2008. 

The College Board reported that the average mathematics score of Delaware's college-bound seniors attending the state's public and nonpublic schools was 498 which was identical to last year's results.  This year's national average math score is 515 with no change from last year.   

For the fourth year, results were released for the writing portion of the SAT.  For Delaware's public and non-public high school seniors, the mean score for writing was 484, a six point increase from 2008.  Nationally, the average writing score was 493, a one point decrease in scores from last year. 

Delaware's SAT Reasoning Test participation rate of public/private schools is 71%, an increase of one percentage point from 2008 but well above the nation's participation rate of 46%. As a result, Delaware's participation rate is ranked eighth in the nation.

In Delaware's public schools, nearly 54% of SAT Reasoning Test takers were female compared to 47% males. Male test takers outscored female students in reading and math but lagged behind in writing. Male students had an average of 481 on the critical reading portion of the exam while female students averaged 475. In math, male students, on average, scored 503 while female students scored 468. In writing, female students scored an average of 470 while male students averaged 457.  This trend was exhibited last year as well.

A breakdown of Delaware public school scores by gender and ethnicity is as follows:

Group	Number	% of Total	Read	Change From 2008	Math	Change from 2008	Writing	Change From 2008
Total	4345	100%	478	-4	484	+1	464	-7
Male	2011	46.3%	481	-3	503	+2	457	-7
Female	2334	53.7%	475	-5	468	-1	470	-7
American Indian	19	0.4%	480	+9	484	-2	447	-6
Asian	199	4.6%	527	+1	587	+25	526	+3
Black	1208	27.8%	421	+3	417	+5	408	-3
Mexican American	54	1.2%	422	-18	429	-27	405	-20
Puerto Rican	80	1.8%	423	-14	435	+14	429	+6
Other Hispanic	91	2.1%	475	+21	473	+15	457	+11
White	2430	55.9%	508	+1	516	+6	493	-1
Other	143	3.3%	462	-9	467	+2	446	-13
No Response	121	2.8%	435	-34	431	-21	425	-27

In response to this year's SAT results, Former Secretary of Education Lillian Lowery commented, "While the AP results show we are making progress, there is a great deal of work that needs to be done so that our students are prepared for postsecondary education.  We cannot make the excuse that our students are following the national trends in SAT results.  As educators we need to do better because our students expect us to, and they deserve better."  

Dr. Lowery noted that Delaware is one of the 46 states participating in the Common Core State Standards Initiative.  The College Board is one of five partners in this initiative. The outcome from this will be research and evidence-based standards that are aligned with college and work expectations, including rigorous content and skills and that are internationally benchmarked. 

Delaware's Department of Education is committed to promoting the highest quality education for every Delaware student by providing visionary leadership and superior service.

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Delaware's Department of Education is committed to promoting the highest quality education for every Delaware student by providing visionary leadership and superior service.	Contact Info. Alison Kepner Delaware Department of Education 401 Federal Street, Suite #2 Dover, Delaware 19901 Phone: (302) 735-4035 Fax: (302) 739-4654 Email: akepner@doe.k12.de.us
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