(posted on January 16, 2009)
Schools’ performance on 2008 Advanced Placement exams released by the State Department of Education show 12 percent more Horry County Schools’ students participated in AP courses and took AP exams than in 2007. Districtwide, 828 students participated in AP courses, an increase of 88 over the 740 who participated last year. These students took a total of 1,191 exams, an increase of 147 from 1,044 exams taken in 2007.
The district’s percentage of students scoring between 3-5 on AP exams decreased to 52.6 percent, down eight-tenths of one percentage point from 53.4 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 56 percent.
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 five most-taken AP exams in 2008 were: United States History, English Literature and Composition, English Language and Composition, Calculus, 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 2008 |
|
High School |
Number Tested |
Number of Exams |
Number of
3-5 Scores |
Percentage of 3- 5 Scores |
|
Academy for the Arts, Science, and Technology |
72 |
101 |
39 |
39% |
|
Academy for Technology and Academics |
9 |
10 |
-- |
-- |
|
Aynor High School |
31 |
45 |
28 |
62% |
|
Carolina Forest High School |
127 |
189 |
147 |
78% |
|
Conway High School |
109 |
136 |
45 |
33% |
|
Green Sea-Floyds High School |
5 |
5 |
-- |
-- |
|
Loris High School |
11 |
18 |
5 |
28% |
|
Myrtle Beach High School |
77 |
111 |
90 |
81% |
|
North Myrtle Beach High School |
173 |
233 |
65 |
28% |
|
Socastee High School |
111 |
215 |
132 |
61% |
|
Saint James High School |
103 |
128 |
75 |
59% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
Socastee High School ranks first in South Carolina with the highest percentage of IB tests earning a score of 4 or higher. Sixty-seven students participated in IB courses and took 143 IB exams. Of the 143 tests, 136, or 95 percent, received a score of 4 or higher, equal to satisfactory, good, very good, or excellent performance. SHS ranks second in the state for the percentage of IB diplomas earned per attempts. Fourteen students attempt an IB diploma and 13, or 93 percent, earned diplomas.
At Aynor High School, 17 students participated in IB courses and took 24 IB exams. Of the 24 tests, 12, or 50 percent, received a score of 4 or higher, equal to satisfactory, good, very good, or excellent performance. No students from Aynor High School earned an IB diploma.
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For more information visit the State Department of Education website.