Schools

Einstein Touts Higher AP Performance for Minority Students

Participation and passage are on the rise for black and Hispanic students.

More students are taking and passing advanced placement tests in Montgomery County Public Schools, and has shown an increase in minority test-takers, according to MCPS.

For the class of 2011, the rate of black students taking AP tests rose by 24 percent at Einstein, and the rate for Hispanic students went up by 47 percent, MCPS reported. Those numbers stand out from the overall student population at Einstein, whose test-taking rate dropped from 65 percent to 62 percent.

More black and Hispanic students are passing the tests at Einstein, too. The number of black students scoring at least a 3 went from 22.5 percent to 25 percent, and the rate of Hispanic students passing increased from 29.5 percent to 35.8 percent, MCPS reported.

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Principal James Fernandez said the increase is a credit to Einstein's staff.

"Most importantly, our teachers are willing to support the kids," he said. "They don't lower the bar of expectations, but they will help push that kid up to that bar to become successful."

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District-wide, the number of MCPS students who receive at least a 3 on an AP test rose to an all-time high of 50 percent last year, the schools reported.

Superintendent Joshua Starr said in a statement that he is proud of the gains MCPS has made in AP testing, but scores are just one measure of success for students.

"While we should celebrate the progress we are making, we must also pay close attention to performance variability among our students," Starr said. "We must make sure our students not only have access to AP but have the skills and knowledge they need to be successful."


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