Expansion of Access to Advanced Mathematics: Discover the Statistics of AP Precalculus
In the 2023-24 academic year, the College Board launched the Advanced Placement (AP) Precalculus course, marking its most popular course launch ever. Over 184,000 students worldwide took the AP Precalculus course exam in its first year, and the results were impressive.
Seventy-six percent of students who took the AP Precalculus course exam scored a 3 or higher on a 1-5 scale, making them eligible for college credit. This high passing rate demonstrates the course's effectiveness and accessibility.
Schools with larger student enrollments were more likely to offer AP Precalculus than schools with smaller student bodies. However, the course was also offered more in city and suburban high schools than in rural areas and towns.
One of the key advantages of AP Precalculus is its affordability. It offers a more affordable alternative to some dual-enrollment programs, making advanced math courses accessible to a wider range of students.
The College Board published a report detailing student participation in the AP Precalculus course's first year. The report revealed that AP Precalculus was the first AP STEM exam for a significantly higher percentage of students attending higher-challenge high schools, schools in rural and town areas, first-generation, Black, and Hispanic students compared to other AP math exams.
Many high school seniors took AP Precalculus as their first and only AP STEM exam before graduation. The course's popularity is not surprising, given that 87% of AP Precalculus exam-takers enrolled in at least one AP course in any subject area.
Teachers surveyed by the College Board reported feeling that the AP Precalculus course was rigorous but accessible to all students. In some cases, the introduction of AP Precalculus has reshaped how math teachers teach Algebra 1, Algebra 2, and geometry.
School leaders claim that AP Precalculus has helped provide more students with access to college-level math, particularly those not on the calculus track. Seventy-eight percent of AP Precalculus exam-takers enrolled in any AP STEM course, and 60% of AP Precalculus exam-takers enrolled in AP Calculus (AB or BC) the following year.
Similar trends were found for students with no prior or concurrent AP exams at the time they took AP Precalculus. Forty-eight percent enrolled in AP Calculus the following year, 62% enrolled in any AP STEM class, and 70% enrolled in at least one AP course in any subject area.
The College Board compared the demographics of students taking the AP Precalculus exam with those taking other AP math exams to determine if the new course expanded student access to advanced math courses. The results suggest that AP Precalculus has indeed been successful in this regard.
However, it's important to note that not all schools offered AP Precalculus in its first event period. The search results do not provide a direct percentage or proportion of high schools that did not offer the course. Specific enrollment data shows some schools had zero students enrolled in AP Precalculus, but comprehensive aggregate statistics or a clear share are not available.
In conclusion, the launch of AP Precalculus has been a significant step towards expanding access to advanced math courses for a diverse range of students. The high passing rates, increased enrollment in AP STEM courses, and positive feedback from teachers and school leaders all indicate a successful first year for the course. As more schools adopt AP Precalculus, it is hoped that even more students will be able to benefit from this affordable and accessible advanced math course.
