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(posted on December 14, 2009)
Schools’ performance on 2009 Advanced Placement exams released by the State Department of Education show 47 percent more Horry County Schools’ students participated in AP courses and took AP exams than in 2008. Districtwide, 1,217 students participated in AP courses, an increase of 389 over the 828 who participated last year. These students took a total of 1,734 exams, an increase of 543 from 1,191 exams taken in 2008.
The district’s percentage of students scoring between 3-5 on AP exams decreased to 50.9 percent, down from 52.6 percent last year. Generally, scores greater than 3 allow students to receive college credit for an AP course taken in high school. The state and national percentage of students scoring 3-5 on AP exams is 57 percent. South Carolina had an 11 percent increase in the number of students participating in AP courses and the number of AP tests taken in 2009.
Since 1984, South Carolina has paid for AP instructional materials, paid students’ test fees and offered specialized training for teachers. Every student enrolled in an AP course is required to take the test. The six most-taken AP exams in 2009 were: United States History, English Literature and Composition, English Language and Composition, Calculus AB, Biology, and Statistics.
Below are individual AP results from nine district high schools and two academies. Results indicate the school, number of participating students, number of exams taken and the passage rate of students earning a score of 3 or higher:
HCS Advanced Placement 2009 | School | Number Tested | Number of Exams | Number of
3-5 Scores | Percentage of 3- 5 Scores | Academy for the Arts, Science, and Technology | 64 | 89 | 34 | 38% | Academy for Technology and Academics | 16 | 16 | -- | -- | Aynor High School | 85 | 114 | 51 | 45% | Carolina Forest High School | 127 | 179 | 162 | 91% | Conway High School | 169 | 227 | 83 | 37% | Green Sea-Floyds High School | 6 | 6 | -- | -- | Loris High School | 91 | 119 | 26 | 22% | Myrtle Beach High School | 128 | 198 | 135 | 68% | North Myrtle Beach High School | 200 | 300 | 87 | 29% | Socastee High School | 163 | 293 | 185 | 63% | Saint James High School | 168 | 193 | 119 | 62% |
Socastee High School’s IB program second highest in the State for diplomas earned
The State Department of Education also released data on the South Carolina high schools that are part of the International Baccalaureate, a Geneva, Switzerland-based diploma program that offers students intensive academic preparation. South Carolina’s participating schools are among nearly 2,000 IB schools in 124 countries around the world. Aynor High School and Socastee High School both offer IB programs.
At Socastee High School, 76 students participated in IB courses and took 217 IB exams. Of the 217 tests, 190, or 88 percent, received a score of 4 or higher, equal to satisfactory, good, very good, or excellent performance. Eighteen of 19 students, or 95 percent, who attempted an IB diploma earned one, making Socastee High School the second highest performing IB program per diplomas earned.
At Aynor High School, 26 students participated in IB courses and took 33 IB exams, of which 25, or 76 percent, received a score of 4 or higher, equal to satisfactory, good, very good, or excellent performance. No students from Aynor High School attempted an IB diploma.
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