Utah teens outscore nation in most AP test subjects

Utah students scored higher than their peers nationally in nearly every subject offered in the Advanced Placement program but had slightly below-average scores in two core subjects — language and science.

In Utah, 27.6 percent of high school seniors took at least one AP test, and 19 percent passed with a score of 3 or higher required for college credit. Nationwide, 25 percent took exams, and 15.2 percent achieved a 3 or higher. The results were once again higher than the previous year, showing more students in the program and more passing the exam in at least one of 37 subjects.

U.S. history was by far the most popular test taken by Utah students, with just over half of test-takers passing. English was the second-most taken test, with calculus and other subjects trailing down the line. The least popular subject is statistics, though a good percentage of students who take the exam end up passing it, according to results released in the College Board's 5th Annual AP Report to the Nation released Wednesday.

One year ago, Utah was one of the top states when it came to AP test scores among high school students, and three years ago seniors in the Beehive State ranked third in the nation on the college-level exams.

Still, according to the College Board, which administers the test nationally, Utah isn't showing much improvement in closing the gap between minority student success and is one of only two states to show a decline in success rates over five years.

Schools exhibiting larger numbers of participation by minority groups are recognized in the report.

At a time when costs are rising, officials encourage participation in AP, which results in taking fewer courses in college, thus reducing tuition, room and board. Most students who take AP tests in high school earn a college degree in four years as opposed to the typical six or seven years, which strains taxpayer funds and costs students an average of $18,000 to $58,000 more, according to the College Board.

"Exposing students to college-level learning does affect their success in college," Trevor Packer, vice president of the College Board's AP program, said during a telephone news conference.

The board suggests increasing the rigor of high school graduation requirements to prepare more students for college, including those who don't participate in AP programs.

"Dropping high school juniors and seniors into college-level courses without laying the appropriate groundwork will neither produce excellent AP results nor prepare these students for college success," said College Board President Gaston Caperton. "Instead, we must continue to seek out ways to reach students in middle school and ninth and 10th grades so that they will have stronger prospects for success when they take AP courses."

Utah has implemented stricter high school graduation standards for students to be eligible for statewide scholarships, including both the New Century and Regents scholarships, requiring higher levels of math and science participation as well as English and foreign language.

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