Carson High School outpaces state in AP exams by 22 percent

Carson High School is exceeding the state average among students who have not only taken college-level Advanced Placement courses, but have excelled in AP exam scores, according figures released Wednesday by the Nevada Department of Education and recently by the Carson City School District.

CHS 2017 figures show 234 students took 500 exams and of those, 175 students or 74.8 percent of the students scored 3-plus or better. Statewide 52.5 percent scored 3-plus or higher, a 22 percent difference.

“We are very pleased with all the Carson City students preparing themselves for successful college and career experiences through ACT and AP exams,” Richard Stokes, superintendent for Carson City School District, said. “Congratulations are in order for all of these students as well as their teachers and parents.”

Statewide, Nevada high school graduates have had both the largest five-year increase and three-year increase in the percentage of public high school graduates demonstrating college readiness on their AP exams. Nevada saw increases of 6.6 percent over the past three years and 8.2 percent over the past five years of students earning a 3 or higher on their AP Exams.

In May 2017, Nevada high school students took a total of 18,878 AP Exams that resulted in scores of 3 or higher, which demonstrates college readiness. Based on Nevada students’ opportunity to earn at least three college credits for each AP Exam of 3 or higher, this represents an estimated 56,634 college credits.

“Our high school graduates are the fastest improving in the nation on the AP Exam,” said Steve Canavero, Ph.D., Superintendent of Public Instruction. “At an average rate of $242 per credit hour, the total potential cost savings for our state’s students and families was nearly $14 million. That’s good for our economy and the development of the skilled workforce that Nevada’s new economy is demanding.”

Overall, Nevada’s graduating class of 2017 was 14th in the nation, scoring a 3 or higher on an AP Exam with 24.7 percent exceeding the mark. Nationally, 22.8 percent exceeded a 3 or higher.

Recent figures show Carson High School has shown steady improvements since 2013. That year, 186 students enrolled in AP classes, taking 325 exams, with 72.6 percent scoring three or higher. The scoring dropped to 67.6 percent in 2014, climbed to 70.7 percent in 2015 and climbed again to 74.3 percent in 2016.

In 2007, only 14.2 percent of Nevada students scored a 3 or higher.

Having secured bragging rights for AP exams, CHS also can boast of successes with its Jump Start College program, a dual-enrollment opportunity for students in selected Nevada high schools. Students enroll in college courses through Western Nevada College while simultaneously earning high school credits. Jump Start College participants are able to complete up to 60 college credits through WNC.

In its first year, fall and spring of 2014-15, CHS enrollment in the program was 23 and 22 respectively. The program more than tripled 2015-2016 to 67 and 62 students, respectively, and in 2016-17, 89 students enrolled in the fall program, and 95 in the spring program, having a course pass percentage of 92.1 percent last year, according to CHS figures.

“It’s important to also note the success of our Jump Start program where more than 92 percent of students passed college credit courses,” said Stokes. “We’ve got great students who want to challenge themselves by taking these upper-level college courses. They are not afraid of some extra work.”

Nevada Department of Education says it plans to continue to lead the nation in AP increases through its work to expand access to rural communities. Through its grant making, the Department will work with school districts in rural communities to provide digital access to a dozen Advanced Placement classes through existing programs, resources, and teachers available. Next year students all across Nevada will be able to access AP classes at their school library or even on the bus to and from school.

Nevada is focused on expanding participation in the AP Computer Science Principles (CSP) course as a career pathway leading to 2,731 computing jobs that are currently open in Nevada. In December 2016, Gov. Brian Sandoval announced that Nevada would partner with the College Board and Code.org to expand computer science coursework in the state.

The Nevada Legislature followed up with legislation in 2017 that requires a computer science course in every public and charter high school in the state. Of the 304 Nevada students who took the initial AP CSP exam last May, 66 percent earned a score of 3 or higher.

The College and Career Readiness (CCR) and the Title IV, A competitive grants provide opportunities for districts to expand access to AP courses and funding for students to take AP exams. Districts may apply for funds to subsidize the cost of AP Exams for low-income and other traditionally underserved students. The Nevada Department of Education awarded more than $650,000 in the CCR grant to expand access to AP courses and over $350,000 of that was used specifically to pay for AP Exam fees, which amounts to 6,767 exams at the free and reduced priced lunch rate. In addition, the Department awarded nearly $100,000 in Title IV, A funding for exam fees for rural students and to provide access to AP courses for rural districts.