Advanced Statistics - advanced placement program shows increase in minority student test takers - Brief Article - Statistical Data Included

Black Issues in Higher Education, Oct 26, 2000

Since the Advanced Placement program began more than 40 years ago, minority participation has increased steadily. In 1978, 12 percent of AP test takers were students of color. In 2000, though not as high as many advocates would prefer, minority students accounted for 27 percent of AP test takers.

Though hard and recent numbers are difficult to come by when it comes to measuring the effect of the Advanced Placement program on college student retention, most experts agree that the courses give students a boost. College Board surveys have shown that the majority of students who take AP courses graduate in four years with a grade-point average that is greater than 3.00. Additionally, after taking most AP examinations, students are more likely to continue their pursuit of the subject area of the examination.

African American AP Test Takers

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2000 African American AP Exams By Subject

Subject                          No. of students

US History                                 9,112
Art History                                  310
Studio Art-Drawing                           238
Studio Art-General                           360
Biology                                    3,859
Chemistry                                  1,850
Computer Science A                           552
Computer Science AB                          107
Economics Micro                              622
Economics Macro                              806
English Language                           6,019
English Literature                        10,047
Environmental Science                        662
European History                           1,873
French Language                              671
French Literature                             69
German Literature                             44
U.S. Govt. & Politics                      3,053
Govt. & Politics Comp.                       382
International English Language                 0
Latin Virgil                                 116
Latin Literature                              90
Calculus AB                                5,480
Calculus BC                                  614
Music Theory                                 239
Physics B                                    915
Physics C Mech                               336
Physics B E&M                                111
Psychology                                 1,705
Spanish Language                           1,548
Spanish Literature                           102
Statistics                                 1,244

Asian American AP Test Takers

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2000 Asian American AP Exams By Subject

Subject                          No. of students

US History                                21,760
Art History                                1,579
Studio Art-Drawing                           445
Studio Art-General                           826
Biology                                   13,785
Chemistry                                 10,255
Computer Science A                         2,870
Computer Science AB                        1,630
Economics Micro                            3,259
Economics Macro                            4,094
English Language                          11,881
English Literature                        18,073
Environmental Science                      1,638
European History                           7,097
French Language                            1,659
French Literature                            167
German Literature                            247
U.S. Govt. & Politics                      8,795
Govt. & Politics Comp.                     1,061
International English Language                 1
Latin Virgil                                 397
Latin Literature                             259
Calculus AB                               20,280
Calculus BC                                8,506
Music Theory                                 595
Physics B                                  5,707
Physics C Mech                             3,349
Physics B E&M                              1,770
Psychology                                 4,124
Spanish Language                           5,181
Spanish Literature                           378
Statistics                                 5,822

Hispanic American AP Test Takers

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2000 Hispanic American AP Exams By Subject

Subject                          No. of students

US History                                12,678
Art History                                  762
Studio Art-Drawing                           438
Studio Art-General                           785
Biology                                    5,104
Chemistry                                  2,480
Computer Science A                           644
Computer Science AB                          178
Economics Micro                            1,118
Economics Macro                            1,948
English Language                          10,786
English Literature                        12,847
Environmental Science                      1,148
European History                           3,265
French Language                            1,086
French Literature                            100
German Literature                            100
U.S. Govt. & Politics                      5,701
Govt. & Politics Comp.                       474
International English Language                 0
Latin Virgil                                  74
Latin Literature                              46
Calculus AB                                7,617
Calculus BC                                1,136
Music Theory                                 264
Physics B                                  1,541
physics C Mech                               644
Physics B E&M                                217
Psychology                                 1,992
Spanish Language                          29,514
Spanish Literature                         6,150
Statistics                                 1,722