Advanced Placement Participation and Performance Continues to Increase

Over 1.2 million students in the class of 2024 took more than 4.3 million AP Exams in public high schools nationwide, according to the AP Program Results: Class of 2024 report released today. The report shows that educators across the country are continuing to enable a wider population of students to challenge themselves with rigorous college-level work while in high school.

The report highlights that 786,291 students, or 22.6% of the class of 2024, scored a 3 or higher on at least one AP Exam during high school, up from 19.9% of the class of 2014.

Over the last 10 years, the number of public high school graduates nationally who have taken an AP Exam increased from 32.8% of the class of 2014, to 35.7% of the class of 2024. More than 460,000 traditionally underrepresented students graduated in 2024 from U.S. public high schools having taken at least one AP Exam, up from 154,000 students from the class of 2014.

"The class of 2024’s AP results show that many more students are engaging in the opportunity to earn college credit and advanced standing,” said Trevor Packer, head of the Advanced Placement^® Program. “AP teachers nationwide are helping a wider range of students learn in a hands-on environment, gain critical knowledge, and build the professional skills that will help them succeed in college and career.”

Participation Matters

While a score of 3 or higher on an AP Exam in high school gives students the chance to earn college credit, advanced placement in college courses, or both, evidence shows how AP students who earn scores of 1 and 2 benefit from their experiences in AP:

• Students are more likely to enroll in a four-year college. AP students, including those with average scores of 1 or 2, are more likely to enroll in a four-year college, compared to academically similar students who didn’t take AP in high school.
• Students perform as well or better in introductory college courses. Students who earn AP scores of 2 are well prepared to succeed in introductory college coursework. Compared to academically similar college peers who didn’t take an AP course, AP students who earn scores of 2 perform as well or better when they take those introductory college courses.
• Students go on to score higher on subsequent AP Exams. Many students who first score a 1 or 2 on an AP Exam take further AP courses and score higher.

State Highlights

Once again, Massachusetts leads the nation in the percentage of students taking and succeeding in AP. In Massachusetts, 32.8% of public-school graduates from the class of 2024 scored 3 or higher on at least one AP Exam. This represents a 5.5 percentage-point increase from 2014. Massachusetts also had the highest percentage of graduates in the classes of 2019, 2021, 2023, and 2024 scoring a 3 or higher on an AP Exam during high school.

The 10 states with the highest percentage of 2024 public high school graduates scoring a 3 or higher on an AP Exam in high school are:

• Massachusetts 32.8
• New Jersey 30.7
• New York 30.7
• Connecticut 29.5
• Illinois 28.3
• California 28.2
• Florida 28.0
• Maryland 27.8
• Virginia 27.2
• Colorado 27.0

The District of Columbia had the largest 10-year increase—12.5 percentage points—in public high school graduates scoring a 3 or higher on an AP Exam. Montana had the largest 3-year and 5-year increases—2.6 and 2.8 percentage points, respectively—while Alaska had the largest 1-year increase at 2.8 percentage points. Given the research showing the powerful benefits of AP for students who take the exam, regardless of their score, it’s notable that states have made significant progress in supporting students taking exams.

Preparing a Wider Range of Students to Succeed

Research shows that many high school students are unprepared for college-level math, often requiring them to take remedial math courses that don’t earn college credits or count toward degree requirements. Placement in these courses can discourage students from further participating in STEM. The need to take precalculus in college is also associated with a higher likelihood of not continuing in STEM fields.

To address these challenges, College Board launched AP Precalculus to encourage a broader  group of students to take precalculus before college. In 2023-24, AP Precalculus had the largest course launch in the history of the AP Program, with nearly 185,000 exam takers worldwide. The course was offered in nearly 5,000 schools, was taught by more than 5,600 teachers, and 76% of students earned a college credit-granting score of 3 or higher.

Among AP Precalculus Exam takers, 31% were traditionally underrepresented students and 27% were first-generation college students. When looking at just 12th-grade exam takers, an even broader student population take the AP Precalculus Exam, including 50% traditionally underrepresented students and 43% first-generation college students. In addition, more than half, 56%, hadn’t taken a prior AP STEM exam.

Based on the success of courses like AP Precalculus, the AP Program is continuing to develop courses that are more relevant to students’ interests and career aspirations and that will engage them in more rigorous coursework earlier in high school.

About AP

The Advanced Placement^® Program (AP^®) enables willing and academically prepared students to pursue college-level studies—with the opportunity to earn college credit, advanced placement, or both—while still in high school. Through AP courses in 40 subjects, each culminating in a challenging exam, students learn to think critically, construct solid arguments, and see many sides of an issue—skills that prepare them for college and beyond.