Agenda Item:
Meeting Date:
High School Advanced Placement (AP) Test Score Results
October 7, 2014
From: Nancy DePalma, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and
Assessment
Through:
Paul Vicinus, Director of Secondary Education
Chip Ward, Director of Finance and Planning
Tom Moore, Superintendent
Background:
This report presents a detailed analysis of the results of West Hartford’s high schools on the
AP exams for the 2013-14 school year.
Dr. DePalma, Mr. Vicinus, and Mr. Ward will be available to answer questions.
Advanced Placement (AP) Scores:
The attached tables summarize the results of the 2014 administration of AP exams. The AP program gives students the opportunity to pursue college-level studies while still in high school and to receive advanced placement, credit, or both in college. The courses are very challenging and provide the student an opportunity to learn a subject in depth, to develop analytical reasoning skills, and to form disciplined study habits that can contribute to continued success in college.
Each exam is scored on a 5-point scale, where a 5 represents the highest score possible and 1 is the lowest. Each individual college decides which AP exam grades they will accept for advanced placement and/or credit in which subject area; many accept 3 or above and most accept a score of 4 or 5.
2014 was another in a strong year for the AP Program in WHPS – we had a total of 1,059 students take 1,968 AP exams. That is an increase of 24 students and a decrease of 47 exams from 2013’s record levels. The participation rate, which is the total number of exam takers divided by the grade 11 and 12 enrollment, averaged 74.2% for the district, which was the highest it has ever been. In total AP exams were taken in 25 different subjects. The College
Board’s AP Equity and Excellence measure for the district was 52.8%. This measure is the percentage of the graduating class who earned a 3 on one or more AP exams.
Agenda Item:
VI.B.1

Conard Results:
 570 students took 1,091 exams. Average score was 3.20 and 72% received a 3 or higher
 Number of exam takers decreased by 2% while the participation rate increased to 83% - due to a larger number of 10 th graders taking AP
Biology in 2014 compared to 2013.
 Number of exams decreased 8%
 Most popular exam – Biology – 140 students, mostly sophomores, took the exam, 79% received a 3 or higher
 57.1% of the class of 2014 earned a 3 or higher on at least one AP exam
(AP Equity and Excellence) according to the College Board’s data set
Hall Results:
 489 students took 877 exams. Average score was 3.32 and 72% received a 3 or higher
 Number of exam takers increased 8% and participation increased to
66.1% - the highest ever
 Number of exams increased by 6%
 Most popular exam – Psychology – 181 students took exam, 57% received a 3 or higher
 48.8% of the class of 2014 earned a 3 or higher on at least one exam (AP
Equity and Excellence) according to the College Board’s data set.
A final note about average scores and percent of students earning a 3 or higher - this is the one area of test reporting where higher is not always better. It is easy to get high average scores on the AP exam – just limit the test takers to students who will score a 5. But enrollment in AP courses should be based be on much more than just getting a 5 on the exam. Many students, who will not get 5’s or 4’s or even 3’s on the exam can benefit from the challenging curriculum and content provided by these courses.

2014 AP Exam Results
Conard Hall
Exam Number of
Tests
% 3 or higher
Number of
Tests
% 3 or higher
Art (All)
English Language
English Literature
French Language
Spanish Language
Spanish Lit
Calculus AB
Calculus BC
Statistics
Comp Sci A
Biology
Chemistry
Physics B
Environ. Science
Econ. – Micro
Econ. – Macro
European History
9
104
90
24
53
18
54
36
29
17
140
46
31
90
28
28
88%
83%
86%
79%
98%
100%
48%
78%
62%
65%
79%
80%
87%
36%
54%
61%
8
43
16
12
38
0
61
25
28
15
48
45
33
40
32
32
88%
93%
75%
100%
100%
NA
92%
100%
57%
67%
96%
96%
85%
63%
63%
63%
48 71% 27 70%
US Govt & Politics
US History
Psychology
Other exams taken
110
53
81
Chinese (2)
58%
74%
85%
87
93
55%
57%
181 57%
Chinese (3), Latin (1),
Physics C (4), Music Theory (5)
Totals 1,091 72% 877 72%
AP Scholars
The College Board as part of its AP program recognizes students for excellence in both participation and scores on the students’ AP exams. Students were recognized at Conard and Hall based on their cumulative results through the 2014 AP examinations.
Level
AP Scholar – Students who have earned a 3 or higher on 3 AP exams
Conard Hall
77 60
AP Scholar with Honor – Students who have earned a 3 or higher on 5 AP exams and an average of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken
AP Scholar with Distinction – Students who have earned a 3 or higher on 5 AP exams and an average of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken
National AP Scholar – Students who have earned a 4 or higher on 8
AP exams and an average of at least 4.0 on all AP exams taken
22
62
6
25
55
8

UCONN Early College Experience (ECE)
UConn Early College Experience (ECE) is an opportunity for students to take UConn courses while still at Conard or Hall. Every UConn ECE course is equivalent to the same course at the University of Connecticut. Courses are taught at Conard and Hall by teachers who have been certified as adjunct faculty members by the University of Connecticut. Our students earn UConn credits for a fraction of the cost ($25 per credit) had the same course be taken on a college campus. Students must receive a grade of C or above to earn UConn
ECE credit. While not all colleges and universities accept the UConn ECE credits, many do.
UConn ECE credits are offered in 15 courses combined across Conard and Hall including both AP courses and non-AP courses such as Discrete Math. The table below shows the total numbers of students who earned UConn ECE credit in the last 5 school years.
Enrollment in this option has stabilized at between 500 and 600 students over the last five years.
Course
Biology
Calculus AB
Calculus BC
Discrete Math*
Economics Macro
Economics Micro
English Language
English Literature
Environmental Science
2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14
48 67 42 48 65
45
10
2
25
25
28
56
18
51
4
71
19
19
52
67
37
37
14
88
42
43
122
61
45
45
15
109
44
40
82
54
75
20
20
65
21
20
63
28
42
European History
French Language
Ind. Family Development*
Physics B
12
9
63
6
Spanish Language
Statistics
24
51
Total Tests 422
* No AP Exam in this course
32
5
63
6
15
27
539
15
0
37
2
23
35
606
0
0
21
10
21
39
603
0
0
65
13
22
43
543

Performance on the Board Performance Indicator:
The Board Performance Indicator states that 70% of high school graduates who enter high school as 9th graders will successfully complete at least 1 Advanced Placement course during high school. The table below shows the calculation of the AP statistic for the Classes of
2005 through 2014 at Conard and Hall. In this calculation we look at graduating seniors who were enrolled in West Hartford Public Schools at the start of their 9 th grade year and count how many successfully completed 1 or more AP courses during their years in West Hartford
Public Schools. Successfully completed was defined as earning a C or higher in the AP course. At Conard we saw a 70% of the Class of 2014 successfully complete an AP course.
At Hall, the strong performance continues with 74% of 2014 graduates successfully completing one or more AP courses. We have met this Board performance indicator eight straight years at both high schools (it was 60% for class of 2011 and earlier).
School Year
Grads who entered as 9 th graders
Number of grads who successfully completed
1 or more AP courses Percent
Conard
Hall
Class of 2005
Class of 2006
Class of 2007
Class of 2008
Class of 2009
Class of 2010
Class of 2011
Class of 2012
Class of 2013
Class of 2014
Class of 2005
Class of 2006
Class of 2007
Class of 2008
Class of 2009
Class of 2010
Class of 2011
Class of 2012
Class of 2013
Class of 2014
303
319
317
353
323
354
340
341
353
332
338
281
276
318
283
273
315
338
300
355
211
190
198
249
212
250
232
252
257
239
246
146
163
226
182
194
226
241
209
290
70%
60%
62%
71%
66%
71%
52%
59%
71%
64%
71%
72%
71%
70%
82%
68%
74%
73%
72%
73%

Art (Drawing/General)
Biology
Calculus - AB
Calculus - BC
Chemistry
Chinese Language
Computer Science A
Economics - Macro
Economics - Micro
English Lit. & Comp.
English Language
Environmental Science
European History
French Language
Physics B
Psychology
Spanish Language
Spanish Literature
Statistics
US Govn & Politics
U.S. History
Other
Total
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
13
189
7
115
6
110
21
130
40
96
28
131
32
104
26
112
17
188
60
34
78
27
98
27
93
34
116
25
123
34
107
43
127
43
115
61
85 74 68 70 84 82 81
5
79
1
91
5
30
30
116
205
47
45
101
201
35
53
53
155
210
36
70
52
144
244
47
65
77
182
221
62
85
85
192
203
88
61
61
191
256
95
34
76
76
174
198
144
32
60
60
106
147
130
64 72 80 56 47 156 85 75 75
34 49 40 37 43 39 37 61 36
48 40 54 48 51 74 50 54 64
151 202 162 190 247 322 275 276 262
79 81 97 106 88 79 102 92 91
7 16 8 25 15 17 14 16 18
42 55 41 56 79 69 48 59 57
115 125 197
171 161 196 188 204 171 207 155 146
19 31 20 27 20 14 14 12 10
1377 1437 1514 1638 1762 1992 1983 2015 1968

2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Conard High School
Year Subjects Exams Avg Score
1995
1996
1997
1998
11
11
11
14
249
203
198
257
3.07
3.14
3.44
3.04
1999
2000
2001
2002
17
17
19
20
381
434
544
587
3.31
3.24
3.08
3.13
22
21
21
21
26
23
22
23
23
22
23
21
575
521
663
776
778
887
961
978
1104
1112
1188
1091
Hall High School
Year Subjects Exams Avg Score
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
18
14
15
18
19
18
363
396
425
406
498
507
3.64
3.48
3.68
3.69
3.66
3.62
3.21
3.36
3.23
3.24
3.25
3.09
3.21
3.26
3.11
3.23
3.15
3.20
23
22
18
18
22
21
23
20
22
23
23
25
25
25
536
569
472
546
566
601
668
627
677
784
888
871
827
877
3.60
3.77
3.82
3.95
3.75
3.84
3.81
3.82
3.88
3.43
3.38
3.55
3.52
3.32
74%
75%
71%
71%
74%
68%
71%
73%
69%
73%
70%
72%
Percent
3 or higher Candidates
64%
71%
80%
66%
186
146
153
181
76%
74%
67%
72%
238
257
320
322
333
314
384
417
407
433
482
512
547
570
582
570
Percent
3 or higher Candidates
84%
81%
209
227
88%
85%
84%
83%
232
234
270
305
84%
89%
88%
92%
86%
89%
88%
87%
87%
76%
74%
78%
79%
72%
453
489
294
300
271
325
337
358
379
343
371
397
457
444
11-12
Enrollment
503
532
571
619
601
633
681
710
669
627
646
678
697
652
681
747
726
727
756
688
11-12
Enrollment
486
553
563
604
583
596
678
691
718
739
731
745
769
754
763
781
779
770
742
740
Participation
Rate
43.0%
41.0%
41.2%
38.7%
46.3%
51.2%
43.4%
43.4%
37.7%
44.0%
46.1%
48.1%
49.3%
45.5%
48.6%
50.8%
58.7%
57.7%
61.1%
66.1%
Participation
Rate
37.0%
27.4%
26.8%
29.2%
39.6%
40.6%
47.0%
45.4%
49.8%
50.1%
59.4%
61.5%
58.4%
66.4%
70.8%
68.5%
75.3%
78.4%
77.0%
82.8%
4th
3rd
9th
4th
4th
4th
7th
State
Rank
1st
1st
1st
1st
1st
1st
1st
1st
2nd
1st
1st
6th
9th
5th
6th
8th
State
Rank
2nd
6th
4th
6th
2nd
3rd
2nd
2nd
2nd
3rd
1st
1st
1st
AP Equity &
Excellence
38.4%
49.4%
47.8%
50.6%
52.7%
58.7%
57.5%
54.5%
63.9%
57.1%
AP Equity &
Excellence
46.3%
47.9%
54.0%
44.7%
50.4%
52.4%
46.6%
51.2%
53.1%
48.8%

2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
West Hartford Public Schools
Year Subjects
1995 18
1996
1997
14
15
1998
1999
2000
18
19
18
Exams
612
599
623
663
879
941
Avg Score
3.41
3.36
3.60
3.44
3.51
3.44
Percent
3 or higher
76%
78%
85%
78%
81%
79%
Candidates
395
373
385
415
508
562
11-12
Enrollment
989
1085
1134
1223
1184
1229
Participation
Rate
39.9%
34.4%
34.0%
33.9%
42.9%
45.7%
22
22
29
25
24
24
22
22
26
27
25
27
26
25
1080
1156
1047
1067
1229
1377
1446
1514
1638
1762
1992
1983
2015
1968
3.34
3.44
3.49
3.66
3.47
3.50
3.51
3.39
3.49
3.33
3.23
3.37
3.30
3.25
75%
80%
80%
84%
78%
79%
80%
76%
78%
75%
71%
75%
74%
72%
614
622
604
639
721
775
786
776
853
909
1,004
1,014
1,035
1,059
1359
1401
1387
1366
1377
1423
1466
1406
1444
1528
1505
1497
1498
1428
45.2%
44.4%
43.5%
46.8%
52.4%
54.5%
53.6%
55.2%
59.1%
59.5%
66.7%
67.7%
69.1%
74.2%
1st
2nd
5th
3rd
2nd
1st
2nd
State
Rank
1st
2nd
1st
3rd
1st
1st
4th
4th
2nd
1st
3rd
AP Equity &
Excellence
42.4%
48.7%
50.9%
47.7%
51.6%
55.6%
52.1%
52.9%
59.1%
52.8%

1,200
1,000
800
600
400
200
0
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Hall 305 294 300 271 325 337 358 379 343 371 397 457 444 453 489
Conard 257 320 322 333 314 384 417 407 433 482 512 547 570 582 570
Year

2,200
2,000
1,800
1,600
1,400
1,200
1,000
800
600
400
200
-
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Hall 507 536 569 472 546 566 601 668 627 677 784 888 871 827 877
Conard 434 544 587 575 521 663 776 778 887 961 978 1104 1112 1188 1091
Year

90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Year

4.00
3.80
3.60
3.40
3.20
3.00
2.80
2.60
2.40
Year