Department of Education Commissioner Candice McQueen announced Tuesday that nearly 7,500 more post-secondary credits were awarded to Tennessee public school students in 2016 when compared to 2014. Additionally, more students than ever before in Tennessee are taking Advanced Placement (AP) exams, with 27,699 students taking one or more exam in 2016—up 8.8 percent from last year, officials said.
The new data show that not only are more Tennessee students taking AP tests, but also 3,700 more exams were scored a three or higher, making those students eligible to receive college credit for their high school work.
AP classes offer students the ability to take college-level course work and earn college credit based on their performance on the national AP exam.
“Through Tennessee Promise, our students have an unprecedented opportunity to continue their education beyond high school, and we must ensure they are ready to be successful from day one,” Comm. McQueen said. “To ensure their success in college and their future careers, all students in Tennessee need to have access to rigorous and relevant early post-secondary opportunities, and AP course expansion is a key component to this work.”
The trends in Tennessee were mirrored in the national data that is out Tuesday. Across the country, participation was up by 5.3 percent with a similar percentage increase in the number of exams that were scored as a three or higher.
Officials said research has shown that students who participate in early post-secondary courses are more likely to enroll and persist in post-secondary education. One of the department’s three goals, as detailed in the department’s strategic plan, Tennessee Succeeds, is for the majority of high school graduates from the class of 2020 to earn a post-secondary certificate, diploma, or degree. This achievement will equip our students to meet the demands of the workforce as at least 55 percent of all jobs in Tennessee will require some post-secondary education by 2025.
Currently, there are several types of early post-secondary opportunities available in Tennessee and offerings vary widely by school district. To support this effort, and to ensure that all students are given the opportunity earn early post-secondary credit, the department supports the following early post-secondary opportunities and programs: dual enrollment, local dual credit, statewide dual credit, advanced placement, Cambridge International Examinations, International Baccalaureate, College Level Examination Program, and Student Industry Certification.
For questions about early post-secondary opportunities in Tennessee, contact Patrice.Watson@tn.gov. For individual school data, reach out to your local school district.