Record Number of Montana Students Take Advance Placement Exams

Darby, Stevensville School Districts Rank Among Top 13 Districts for Highest Percentage of Students in Advanced Placement Programs

Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau today announced a record number of Montana students took Advanced Placement exams in 2009, according to a new report. The College Board’s Sixth Annual AP Report to the Nation found that 1661 Montana students from the graduating class of 2009 took at least one AP exam during high school compared to 1630 in the class of 2008 and 1380 in the class of 2004.

The Darby and Stevensville School Districts are ranked among the top 13 districts with the highest percentage of graduating students who participated in Advanced Placement programs. Other top-ranking school districts include: Baker, Bozeman, Cascade, Gardiner, Harrison, Moore, Ronan, Roy, Sweet Grass, Three Forks, and Whitefish. The Stevensville School District is also among the seven districts with highest percentage of graduating students in Advanced Placement programs in Montana. Other districts with top-ranking AP test scores include: Gardiner, Bozeman, Three Forks, Roy, Whitefish, Baker.

“The gains that Montana students have made in terms of AP participation and success is another sign of our state’s commitment to preparing students for college and careers,’’ said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau. “We are proud of the excellent work that students and teachers in the Darby and Stevensville public schools are doing.”

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

* 9.3 percent of Montana’s graduating Class of 2009 took at least one English AP exam – more than in any other subject area.

* In Montana, more female students participate in AP classes compared to the national average. In Montana 57.4% of AP students are females compared with 42.6% males. Nationwide 56.7% of AP students are females while 43.3% are males.

AP prepares students for college success and helps offset college costs. Research shows that AP students are more likely to earn a bachelor’s degree in four years than their peers. Participation and success in AP courses also helps students qualify for college scholarships.

The College Board is a not-for-profit membership association whose mission is to connect students to college success and opportunity. The College Board’s AP program offers more than 30 courses and exams and provides students with the opportunity to take college-level courses and earn college credit or placement, while still in high school.