Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School ranks top in nation for number of African American students succeeding on AP Exam

Record number of Illinois students take AP exams                                                                    

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Board of Education announced a record number of Illinois students took AP exams in 2009, according to the sixth annual AP Report to the Nation. Illinois ranked in the upper half of the nation in 2009 for the number of high school seniors – 15.9 percent – who scored a 3 or higher on an AP exam. In addition, participation among all categories – by gender, ethnicity and economic class – increased in Illinois as the state moves forward with establishing more rigorous college and career-ready standards.

“The gains that Illinois students have made in terms of AP participation and success is another sign of our state’s commitment to providing a rigorous curriculum that prepares students for college and careers,’’ said State Superintendent of Education Christopher A. Koch. “We expect these gains to continue as we establish internationally-benchmarked learning standards later this year.’’

Illinois ranked 18^th in the nation for having the greatest percent of seniors posting a 3 or higher, which studies have shown is predictive of college success and college graduation. The percentage of Illinois students reaching that benchmark has increased since 2004 when 12.6 percent of students scored a 3 or higher. Nearly a quarter of all high school seniors in the Class of 2009  last year had taken at least one AP exam during high school.

Last year, ACT presented The Illinois State Board of Education with its “Systems of Excellence Award’’ in recognition of the state’s requirement that all 11^th graders take the exam, increasing the likelihood of success for all students. The State Board continues to build on that legacy through participation with 48 other states and U.S. territories in the Common Core Standards Initiative to develop common internationally benchmarked learning standards based on the best evidence research and academic performance. The Board is expected to vote on adoption of those standards in August.

Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School in Flossmoor, a southern suburb of Chicago, was singled out in the AP Report to the Nation for having the greatest number of African American students from the class of 2009 scoring 3 or higher on the AP Psychology exam. Across the state, increasing numbers of African American and Latino students are participating in AP.

• In Illinois , Hispanic or Latino high school seniors in 2009 represent 14.5  percent of the AP examinee population, up from 9.9 percent in 2004. The number of Hispanic students from all grade levels taking the test in 2009 grew by 16.1 percent since last year and 11.7 percent of Hispanic students scored a 3 or higher on at least one AP exam.
• Nationally, Black or African American high school seniors represent 7.9 percent of the AP examinee population. In Illinois , Black or African American seniors in 2008 represent 11.8 percent of the AP examinee population, up from 6.3 percent in 2004. The percentage of Black students from all grade levels taking the test in 2009 grew by 10.6 percent since last year.
• American Indian high school seniors represent less than 1 percent of AP test takers but the number of American Indian students from all grade levels taking the test in 2009 grew by 11.6 percent since last year and 12.8 percent more scored a 3 or higher on the exam. 
• More than 56 percent of students from all grade levels who took the test in 2009 were females, a 9.3 percent increase over the previous year. Females posting a score of 3 or higher grew by 7.9 percent since last year.
• More low-income students are participating and experiencing success in AP than ever before. Nationally, 18.9 percent of seniors taking the test in 2009 were low-income students, up from 13.7 percent in the class of 2004. In Illinois , 21.8 percent of seniors taking the test in 2009 were low-income students, up from 12.9 percent in the class of 2004.

Other highlights of the sixth annual AP Report to the Nation:

• Across the state, 15.4 percent of the graduating Class of 2009 took at least one social science AP exam – more than in any other subject area.
• The most popular AP exam in Illinois for the graduating class of 2009 was U.S. History with 11,707 tests taken compared to Chemistry, with 2,372 tests taken. 
• Across the country, White students represent 62.1 percent of the public school graduating class of 2009 and 58.1 percent of the AP examinee examination.