Advanced Placement results announced

Resource Counselor Marcia Johnson announced Blair's Advanced Placement (AP) test results at the Instructional Leadership Team meeting on Monday, July 11. In May 2005, 660 Blazers took 1617 AP exams and received 674 fives, 482 fours, 284 threes, 122 twos and 55 ones.

The College Board, which administers the AP exams, equates a score of five to being "extremely well qualified" to complete the corresponding college course, a four to being "well qualified," a three "qualified," a two "possibly qualified" and gives students with a one "no recommendation." Grades were available to students by phone starting July 1 for a fee of $8 per call and grade reports have now been mailed as well.

Seventy-six more Blazers took AP tests this year than in 2004, which Johnson says is likely due to the increased availability of the AP NSL course to sophomores. This assumption is supported by the fact that only 77 more tests were taken this year than last. Overall, grades improved from 2004. While approximately 42% of tests taken were graded five both this year and last, the percentage of fours increased from 25% to 30%, corresponding to drops in the percentages of threes, twos and ones.

Blair's scores are also significantly better than the rest of the state and country. Last year, out of all students in the class of 2004, 19.4% in Maryland and 13.2% in the country received at least one grade of three or higher on an AP exam. Blair comparatively had 29.9% of members of the class of 2005 and 28.6% of seniors last year earn at least one three, four or five. State and national AP results for 2005 are not expected to be available until January.