Schools
UCS Gets National Recognition for AP Scores
The Utica Community School District has received national recognition for its high AP scores and the increase in students taking the college-readiness tests.
Utica Community Schools has been recognized nationally for the percentage of students taking and scoring high on the Advanced Placement exams.
UCS is one of only 388 districts in the country to earn a spot on the College Board’s AP Achievement List.
From 2008 to 2010, UCS has increased the number of students participating in AP from 1,148 to 1,559 while maintaining the percentage of students earning AP Exam scores of 3 or higher, which is the score typically needed to earn college credit.
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AP tests are scored on a 1 to 5 scale, with 5 being the best.
"We have asked our students to increase the rigor in their course selections to be better prepared for their post-secondary experiences, and I am pleased with how they have successfully responded to this challenge,” said superintendent Dr. Christine M. Johns. “This recognition is a reflection on the efforts of our teachers and parents to make sure our students have the tools to reach higher and be college ready.”
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Michigan has 29 school districts on the AP list, making it the second highest nationally. UCS is the largest school district on the Michigan list with more than 29,000 students.
Many U.S. school districts have focused on expanding access to AP courses as part of a strategy for fostering college readiness.
The extreme efforts to get students college-ready have resulted in an increase of students taking the AP exams. However, there has been a slight decline since 2001 in the percentage of AP students scoring a 3 or better, a decline that is to be expected in any program attracting a broader cross section of students.
“These districts are living proof that when access to AP is provided for the range and breadth of prepared and motivated students, districts can achieve even higher learning outcomes for their students—and the opportunity for so many more to earn college credit and placement—than when AP opportunities were restricted to a smaller segment of the high school population,” said Trevor Packer, vice president of the College Board’s Advanced Placement Program.
The complete AP Achievement List can be found at www.collegeboard.org.
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